Race and Caribbean Culture - 1709 Words

Race and Caribbean Culture Each culture is unique in its attitudes about which groups within the cultural community will comprise the majority and which the minority. The culture also determines how the minority culture will be treated and how the two groups will be classified. Often, differentiation of groups is determined by race, rather than things like religion or class. Throughout literary history, authors have endeavored to capture the past as well as recreate and articulate sociological inequalities within that past. Issues of race, being one of the primary examples of social inequality, often appear in controversial and important works of literature. In the Caribbean Sea, people have had to deal with centuries of racial prejudices and sociological inequity, since the first explorers arrived on the island and demanded that those with darker skins become the slaves of those with light skin. Three particular works of literature, Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys, The Kingdom of This World by Alejo Carpenter , and The Farming of Bones by author Edwidge Danticat have recreated the historical scenarios of life in the Caribbean during the time of oppression of the native peoples by white Europeans and shows just how disturbing and destructive attitudes of superiority and inferiority regarding racial differences can truly be. Perhaps the most famous example of literature regarding Caribbean oppression is Wide Sargasso Sea, by Jean Rhys. In this novel, a white woman namedShow MoreRelatedCaribbean Studies Essay999 Words   |  4 Pagesfor the changing role that Race, Colour and Ethnic affiliation play in Caribbean Society and Culture Subject: Caribbean Studies Teacher: Mrs. L. Nation Account for the changing role that Race, Colour and Ethnic affiliationRead MoreThe Family Aspect Of The Quilt1139 Words   |  5 PagesIn a perfect world, the Caribbean is like a quilt that has been stitched together by a mother or grandmother. It eventually comes together to form a unique blanket that incorporates a multi-dimensional group of different pieces of colors and sizes in its final product. The maternal aspect of the quilt, represents the Euro-colonial influence that was responsible for the colonialization of the Caribbean region. All patches have their own unique shape and design, and eventually come together to makeRead More The Social Impact of Slavery on the Caribbean Society Essay1336 Words   |  6 PagesThe Social Impact of Slavery on the Caribbean Society In order for us to understand the Caribbean, we must acknowledge the tremendous social impact slavery placed upon the islands. We must not only consider the practice of slavery dating back to the indigenous peoples, but from what the introduction of the African slave trade did to the islands economically as well as culturally. In this paper let me reflect on slavery in the Caribbean not from an economical standpoint but, from the racial orRead More The Caribbean Essay1123 Words   |  5 PagesThe Caribbean The inhabited islands clustered in the Caribbean Sea are an interesting study in cultural and social identity. Colonized by european powers from the Fifteenth Century, the Caribbean islands have become mixtures of cultures from Europe, Africa, and India, as well as from the original inhabitants of the islands. As a result, describing and defining the Caribbean is a much more difficult task than it appears on the surface. The norms and ideas of identity and history that exist on oneRead MoreThe Social Structure Of The Caribbean1072 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction The social structure of the Caribbean has been greatly influenced by colonization and slavery; it is indeed based on differences associated with class, race or color, ethnicity and culture. The identity of the Caribbean has been formed through a variety of forces like migration, whether force or voluntary, miscegenation and political and social reforms. Although there are many explanations as to how the plantation system affected the Caribbean region but, it is evident that it didRead MoreThe Muse of History by Derek Walcott1751 Words   |  7 PagesAntillean Articulation The Caribbean culture is a result of an amalgamation of different fragments of historical influences. Colonialism led to Europeans who brought Africans then Indians to lands that were already occupied by native Arawak and Amerindian Indians. This ensued a postcolonial environment that displayed a culture that was often schizophrenic. The culture that has been handed down whether through oppressive powers or willfully acquired offer inspiration for artists. In Derek Walcott’sRead More Plantation and Race in the Caribbean Essay1738 Words   |  7 PagesPlantation and Race in the Caribbean The incredible history of the Caribbean is indeed, one of the most rich, and at the same time troubling, of the New World. Its incredibly heterogeneous population and its social racial base make it a very difficult place to, for instance, live and raise a family. While some children may have a future because of their light complexion, the others are doomed to a life of poverty in the unforgiving culture and society of the Caribbean. Three people have takenRead MoreThe Polished Hoe Analysis945 Words   |  4 PagesThere are shared assumptions that have developed overtime as a means of understanding the world, which are unique in every culture; these are commonly referred to as social constructions. In The Polished Hoe, written by Austin Clarke, these constructions become clear, in efforts to shed light on the inequalities that plague habitants of the Caribbean who inherited specific invariable traits. In the land of Bimshire, Barbados as we know it, being classified as anything other than a landowning whiteRead MoreEssay about Challenges of Caribbean Society in Achieving National Unity886 Words   |  4 PagesChallenges of Caribbean Society in Achieving National Unity There have been many attempts for the Caribbean nations to come together as one, leading to national unity in the region. Some attempts at unity include: Federation, CARICOM (Caribbean Community), CARIFTA (Caribbean Free Trade Association), CDB (Caribbean Development Bank), UWI (University of the West Indies), CXC (Caribbean Examinations Council), and recently CSME (Caribbean Single Market and Economy), whichRead MoreReflection Paper About The Caribbean1637 Words   |  7 Pageswanted to share with you how much I have learned about the Caribbean—which is essential to how I now not only view the countries but the people. I’ve come to realize how ignorant I was in regards to knowing exactly what the Caribbean is. Strangely enough, our entire family is from the Caribbean. Im from the Caribbean. But, I know so little. The first day of classes back in September, I was asked by the professor to describe what the Caribbean mean to me. As we went around the room, my turn came and

Analysis of Robert Frost´s Poem Out, Out Essay - 744 Words

Robert Frost’s poem â€Å"Out, Out –â€Å" is about a boy who has his arm sawed off during work and asks his sister not to let the doctor amputate his arm, he then realizes he’s lost too much blood and then dies while doctors try to save him. After his death everyone else continues on with their work and lives. Frost uses a lot of end-stopped lines, enjambment, repetition and personification among others in his lines of poetry. Frost uses a lot of end-stopped lines and enjambment in the lines of his poem. Both have an effect on the way the poem is read by the readers. The lines which use end-stops can be found throughout the beginnings of the poem. â€Å"And from there those that lifted eyes could count/ Five mountain ranges one behind the other/†¦show more content†¦Nature is calm and serene, while this boy’s life has changed in a matter of seconds from living to dead in a tragic event. The end-stopped lines and enjambments are used very well in the remainder of the poem. Frost’s poem is interesting because he uses personification and repetition in describing the saw, the saw is given life; it â€Å"snarled† and â€Å"rattled†. Frost talks about the saw as though it were a person when â€Å"as it ran light, or had to bear a load† like the saw can feel the weight of its work. The narrator depicts the scene as the saw and the boy interacting in a human way. â€Å"As if to prove saws know what supper meant, / Leaped out at the boy’s hand, or seemed to leap –â€Å" The boy and the saw connect during the boys excitement over dinner and Frost makes it seem as though the saw was also excited leading to them both jumping. The saw is personified again as it is said to have leaped to meet the hand and then cut it off. The following line continues the same way. â€Å"Neither refused the meeting. But the hand!† The saw is brought to life and it becomes the antagonist in the poem as it chops off the boy’s hand and not once does Frost blame the boy in the accident. After the hand is chopped off the saw is not mentioned again as the poem continues with the boy. Frost has a compelling way of writing the poem, in the beginnings of the poem there is a lot of metaphors and descriptions of the setting and the saw and the boy. Once the boy is injuredShow MoreRelatedThe Road Not Taken Analysis987 Words   |  4 PagesThe Road Not Taken Analysis The Road Not Taken is a poem written by Robert Frost. This poem is a great candidate to be one of the world s best and this analysis will unveil why it is so. The poetic devices used in the poem bring forth its deeper meaning which ultimately resonates with the reader s emotions. However not only this poem is great because of the literary experience it gives but it is also beautiful on a simple structural level. First lets look at the structural aspectRead MoreModern F. Robert Frost1547 Words   |  7 Pages9th, 2015 Robert Frost: Modern Multiplicity Robert Frost is a multiple poet. –Louis Untermeyer What is customary and, therefore, stereotypical of modern artistic thought is the belief that only one central meaning can be gathered from any one reading; that these singular interpretations support, give credence and justify hegemonic forces or grand narratives in society. Defining the term â€Å"modern† in his work The Postmodern Condition: A Report on Knowledge, Jean-Francois Lyotard â€Å"designate[s]† this nameRead More Analysis of Out, Out by Robert Frost Essay591 Words   |  3 PagesAnalysis of Out, Out by Robert Frost Robert Frost tells a disturbing story in Out, Out, --, in which a little boy loses his life. The title of the poem leaves the reader to substitute the last word of the title, which some would assume would be out because of the repetition. The title is referring to the boy exiting the living world. Frost drags the readers mind into the poem with the imagistic description of the tools and atmosphere the little boy is surrounded by. Frost describesRead MoreEssay about Analysis of Home Burial by Robert Frost970 Words   |  4 PagesAnalysis of Home Burial by Robert Frost Robert Frost wrote the poem Home Burial after he and his wife suffered the tragic loss of their 4-year-old son. Home Burial shows the emotions people feel after such a loss, and how they face those emotions. Through Frosts experience he shows that men and women grieve in different ways. In Home Burial Frost demonstrates, through the husband, that in the grieving process men tend to show strength. Throughout the poem you see the husband proceedRead MoreRobert Frosts Mending Wall1210 Words   |  5 PagesAnalysis Mending Wall, By Robert Frost In Mending Wall, Robert Frost uses a series of contrasts, to express his own conflict between tradition and creation. By describing the annual ritual of two neighbors repairing the wall between them, he contrasts both neighbors through their ideas and actions, intertwining the use of parallelism and metaphors, in order to display his own innermost conflict as a poet; the balance between what is to be said and what is to be left to the reader, the balanceRead MoreAnalysis of the Wood Pile1335 Words   |  6 PagesWITH NATURE Robert Frost s poem, The Wood-Pile, focuses on a man who adventures himself in a frozen swamp. Away from home, he fears the environment surrounding him. Until a small bird, flies ahead of him and draws his attention on a decayed woodpile. This marks a turning point in the poem. The man, hypnotized by the wood pile, feels more comfortable because he knows humans were here before him. He enters in some sort of communion with nature. In his line by line analysis of Frosts poem On the WoodpileRead More Analysis of The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost Essays860 Words   |  4 PagesAnalysis of The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost ?The Road Not Taken? (1916) tells of someone faced with two of life?s decisions however only one can be chosen. Whichever road is taken will be final and will determine the direction that their life takes. Frost drives this poem by a calm and collective narrative, spoken by the traveler of the diverged roads. Who is speaking with himself trying to convince himself of which road is the better choice. Frost wrote this poem using standard, modern languageRead MoreEssay on Robert Frosts Life and Accomplishments1244 Words   |  5 Pageslifetime of ups and downs, Robert Frost said this quote. Most of his poems already shared his message, that life is not as easy as it may first appear to be. He used the simplicity of nature and vernacular speech to give his poems a casual mood, though underneath they display a much deeper meaning of life. These poems help to show people just some of the difficult things that will be faced in life, despite everything done to prevent them from happening. I n particular, his poems â€Å"Nothing Gold Can StayRead MoreEssay on Robert Frost1443 Words   |  6 Pages Robert Lee Frost was born in San Francisco on March 26, 1874 and died in Boston on January 29, 1963. Frost was considered to be one of America’s leading 20th century poets and a four-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize. He was an essentially pastoral poet who was often associated with rural New England. Frost wrote poems of a philosophical region. His poems were traditional but he often said as a dig at his archrival Carl Sandburg, that â€Å"he would soon play tennis without a net as write free verseRead MoreAcquainted With The Night By Robert Frost Essay1670 Words   |  7 PagesAcquainted with Ambiguity: An Analysis of Robert’s Frost’s â€Å"Acquainted with the Night† Born at the end of the 19th century and writing into the 20th century, poet Robert Frost is famous for putting a 20th century spin on 19th century poetic conventions (Robert Frost). His 1928 poem â€Å"Acquainted with the Night† is one of the best examples of this spin, combining modern experimental techniques with a set structure and rhyme scheme. In the poem, the speaker recounts his/her ambiguous relationship

Computer Operating Systems Free Essays

string(75) " kernel of the operating system load into memory \(RAM\) from storage \(i\." ICT 100: Introduction to Information and Communications Technology Unit 3: Operating Systems Objectives: ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Define the term software Differentiate between system software and application software Define the terms operating system and utility program Identify the types of operating systems Explain the boot process of a computer Describe the functions of an operating system Identify common utility programs Software, also called a program, consists of a series of related instructions, organized for a common purpose, that tells the computer what tasks to perform and how to perform them. The two categories of software are system software and application software. System Software System software consists of the programs that control or maintain the operations of the computer and its devices. We will write a custom essay sample on Computer Operating Systems or any similar topic only for you Order Now System software serves as the interface between the user, the application software, and the computer’s hardware. It includes the following: 1. Operating Systems 2. Library Programs 3. Utility Programs Operating Systems An operating system (OS) is a set of programs containing instructions that work together to coordinate all the activities among computer hardware resources. Every computer needs an operating system to act as an interface between the user and the computer hardware. It allows the user to perform tasks without having to know how they are done. For example, a user can give a command to save a file on disk without having to know where the file will be stored or how it will be retrieved again. When a command is given to print a document, the user does not have to be concerned with the details of how the printer works – a program called a device driver takes care of the details. ICT 100 – Operating Systems Page 1 of 9 The operating system that a computer uses sometimes is called the platform. With purchased application software, the package or specifications identify the required platform (operating system). A cross-platform program is one that runs the same on multiple operating systems. Application programs are usually written to work with a particular operating system, so that a word processor, which works with Windows, will not work on an Apple Mac, which has a different operating system. When purchasing application software, ensure that it works with the operating system installed on your computer or mobile device. The Bootstrap Process The process of starting or restarting a computer is called booting. When turning on a computer that has been powered off completely, you are performing a cold boot. A warm boot is the process of using the operating system to restart a computer. A warm boot properly closes any running processes and programs; however, it does not save any unsaved work. Thus, always remember to save your work before rebooting (restarting) a computer. Each time you boot a computer, the kernel and other frequently used operating system instructions are loaded, or copied, from storage into the computer’s memory (RAM). The kernel is the core of an operating system that manages memory and devices, maintains the computer’s clock, starts programs, and assigns the computer’s resources, such as devices, programs, data, and information. The kernel is memory resident, which means it remains in memory while the computer is running. Other parts of the operating system are nonresident, that is, these instructions remain on a storage medium until they are needed. When you boot a computer, a series of messages may appear on the screen. The actual information displayed varies depending on the make and type of the computer and the equipment installed. The boot process, however, is similar for large and small computers. The steps of the bootstrap process are given and explained below: Step 1: The power supply sends a signal to the components in the system unit. When you turn on the computer, the power supply sends an electrical signal to the components in the system unit. Step 2: The processor finds the ROM chip(s) that contains the BIOS. The charge of electricity causes the processor chip to reset itself and find the ROM chip(s) that contains the BIOS. The BIOS (pronounced BYE-ose), which stands for basic input/output system, is firmware that contains the computer’s start-up instructions. ICT 100 – Operating Systems Page 2 of 9 Step 3: The BIOS performs the POST, which checks components, such as the mouse, keyboard, and adapter cards. The BIOS executes a series of tests to make sure the computer hardware is connected properly and operating correctly. The tests, collectively called the power-on self test (POST ), check the various system components including the buses, system clock, adapter cards, RAM chips, mouse, keyboard, and drives. As the POST executes, LEDs (tiny lights) flicker on devices such as the disk drives and keyboard. Beeps also may sound, and messages may appear on the screen. Step 4: The results of the POST are compared with data in a CMOS chip. The POST results are compared with data in a CMOS chip. CMOS is a technology that uses battery power to retain information when the computer is off. The CMOS chip stores configuration information about the computer, such as the amount of memory; type of disk drives, keyboard, and monitor; the current date and time; and other startup information. It also detects any new devices connected to the computer. If any problems are identified, the computer may beep, display error messages, or cease operating — depending on the severity of the problem. Step 5: The BIOS may look for the system files on a USB flash drive or on an optical disc drive or may look directly on drive C (hard disk). If the POST completes successfully, the BIOS searches for specific operating system files called system files. The BIOS may look first to see if a USB flash drive plugged in a USB port or a disc in an optical disc drive contains the system files, or it may look directly on drive C (the designation usually iven to the first hard disk) for the system files. Step 6: The system files and the kernel of the operating system load into memory (RAM) from storage (i. You read "Computer Operating Systems" in category "Essay examples" e. , hard disk). Once located, the system files load into memory (RAM) from storage (usually the hard disk) and execute. Next, the kernel of the operating system loads into memory . Then, the operating system in memory takes control of the computer. Step 7: The operating system loads configuration information, may request user information, starts several background processes, and displays the desktop on the screen. The operating system loads system configuration information. Necessary operating system files are loaded into memory. On some computers, the operating system verifies that the person attempting to use the computer is a legitimate user. Finally, the desktop and icons are displayed on the screen. The operating system executes programs in the Startup folder, which contains a list of programs that open automatically when you boot the computer. ICT 100 – Operating Systems Page 3 of 9 Figure 1 The bootstrap process Shut down options including powering off the computer, placing the computer in sleep mode, and hibernating the computer. Sleep mode saves any open documents and programs to RAM, turns off all unneeded functions, and then places the computer in a low-power state. If, for some reason, power is removed from a computer that is in sleep mode, any unsaved work could be lost. Hibernate, by contrast, saves any open documents and programs to a hard disk before removing power from the computer. Operating System Functions Operating systems perform the following functions: (1) manage resources, (2) manage backing store, (3) handle interrupts, (4) provides a user interface, (5) provide networking capabilities, (6) provide security. . Manage Resources The operating system keeps track of all resources (CPU, disk, memory, files, input and output devices etc. ). Through scheduling it decides what process gets what resource, when it gets it, ICT 100 – Operating Systems Page 4 of 9 how much and for how long. This is called allocation of resources. Resources can also be taken away from a process. This is called de- allocation of resources. Memory Management Computers are capable of holding several programs in memory simultaneously so that a user can switch from one application to another. The purpose of memory management is to optimize the use of random access memory (RAM). The operating system allocates, or assigns, data and instructions to an area of memory while they are being processed. Then, it carefully monitors the contents of memory. Finally, the operating system releases these items from being monitored in memory when the processor no longer requires them. If there is no memory management then one program might accidentally address the memory space occupied by another. This would result in corrupting programs with potentially disastrous results. Virtual memory is used when sufficient physical RAM is not available. Part of a hard disk is allocated to be used as if it were main memory. The speed of access is very slow compared to RAM access speed. File Management The file management part of an operating system has four basic functions: 1. To allocate space on the storage device to hold each file stored, and to deallocate space when a file is deleted. Space is usually divided into fixed size allocation units (addressable blocks) of say 512 or 1024 bytes. 2. To keep track of the allocation units occupied by each file. Files may be split over several allocation units, not necessarily contiguous (i. e. together). A file may initially occupy one unit of 512 bytes, and then when updated by a user, need extra space which may have to be found somewhere else on the disk. 3. To control file access rights and permissions. 4. To map logical file addresses to physical addresses. For example, a physical disk may be split into several logical drives C, D, E, F, G. Managing Programs Some operating systems support a single user and only one running program at a time. Others support thousands of users running multiple programs. How an operating system handles programs directly affects your productivity. A single user/single tasking operating system allows only one user to run one program at a time. A single user/multitasking operating system allows a single user to work on two or more programs that reside in memory at the same time. When a computer is running multiple programs concurrently, one program is in the foreground and the others are in the background. ICT 100 – Operating Systems Page 5 of 9 The one in the foreground is the active program, that is, the one you currently are using. The other programs running but not in use are in the background. A multiuser operating system enables two or more users to run programs simultaneously. Networks, servers, mainframes, and super computers allow hundreds to thousands of users to connect at the same time, and thus are multiuser. A multiprocessing operating system supports two or more processors running programs at the same time. Multiprocessing involves the coordinated processing of programs by more than one processor. Multiprocessing increases a computer’s processing speed. 2. Manage Backing Store The operating system is responsible for the transfer of data from secondary storage (e. g. disk) to memory and vice versa. It also has to maintain a directory of the disk so that files and free spaces can be quickly located. 3. Handle Interrupts The operating system detects interrupts (such as the click of the mouse or a process indicating that it is finished with the processor) and then performs the necessary task (such as allowing the processor to be used by another process). 4. Provide a User Interface You interact with software through its user interface. That is, a user interface controls how you enter data and instructions and how information is displayed on the screen. The operating system acts as a user interface between the user and the machine. Command-Line Interface To configure devices, manage system resources, and troubleshoot network connections, network administrators and other advanced users work with a commandline interface. In a command-line interface, a user types commands or presses special keys on the keyboard (such as function keys or key combinations) to enter data and instructions. Graphical User Interface Most users today work with a graphical user interface. With a graphical user interface (GUI), you interact with menus and visual images such as buttons and other graphical objects to issue commands. Many current GUI operating systems incorporate features similar to those of a Web browser, such as links and navigation buttons (i. e. , Back button and Forward button). Some GUI operating systems provide access to command-line interfaces. Menu-driven Interface User is presented with a range of options from which to choose ICT 100 – Operating Systems Page 6 of 9 Form Interface A user interface in which the computer outputs separate prompt and response fields for a number of inputs. Natural Language – the interface consists of standard languages such as English, Spanish, French, and Dutch etc. 5. Provide Networking Capabilities Some operating systems have networking capabilities built in, others are creating specifically for managing networks, e. g. server operating systems. Networking capabilities include organizing and coordinating how multiple users access and share resources on a network. Resources include hardware, software, data, and information. For example, a server operating system allows multiple users to share a printer, Internet access, files, and programs. The network administrator, the person overseeing network operations, uses the server operating system to add and remove users, computers, and other devices to and from the network. The network administrator also uses the server operating system to install software and administer network security. 6. Provide Security Computer and network administrators typically have an administrator account that enables them to access all files and programs on the computer or network, install programs, and specify settings that affect all users on a computer or network. Settings include creating user accounts and establishing permissions. These permissions define who can access certain resources and when they can access those resources. For each user, the computer or network administrator establishes a user account, which enables a user to access, or log on to, a computer or a network. Each user account typically consists of a user name and password. A user name, or user ID, is a unique combination of characters, such as letters of the alphabet or numbers that identifies one specific user. Many users select a combination of their first and last names as their user name. A user named Henry Baker might choose HBaker as his user name. A password is a private combination of characters associated with the user name that allows access to certain computer resources. Some operating systems allow the computer or network administrator to assign passwords to files and commands, restricting access to only authorized users. After entering a user name and password, the operating system compares the user’s entry with a list of authorized user names and passwords. If the entry matches the user name and password ICT 100 – Operating Systems Page 7 of 9 ept on file, the operating system grants the user access. If the entry does not match, the operating system denies access to the user. To protect sensitive data and information further as it travels over a network, the operating system may encrypt it. Encryption is the process of encoding data and information into an unreadable form. Administrators can specify that data be encrypted as it travels over a n etwork to prevent unauthorized users from reading the data. When an authorized user attempts to read the data, it automatically is decrypted, or converted back into a readable form. Types of Operating Systems Operating systems can be divided into the three following types: 1. Stand-alone 2. Server 3. Embedded Stand-Alone Operating System A stand-alone operating system is a complete operating system that works on a desktop computer, notebook computer, or mobile computing device. Some stand-alone operating systems can work in conjunction with a server operating system (here it functions as a client operating system); others include networking capabilities allowing users to set up small networks (e. g. home or small business network). Examples of currently used stand-alone operating systems are Windows 7, Mac OS X, UNIX, and Linux. Server Operating System A server operating system is an operating system that is designed specifically to support a network. These operating systems can support all sizes of networks from small to large-sized networks and Web servers. A server operating system typically resides on a server and provides client machines with access to resources. Examples of server operating systems include Windows Server 2008, UNIX, Linux, Solaris, and NetWare. Embedded Operating System The operating system on mobile devices and many consumer electronics, called an embedded operating system, resides on a ROM chip. Most handheld computers and small devices use embedded operating systems. Popular embedded operating systems today include Windows Embedded CE, Windows Mobile, Palm OS, iPhone OS, BlackBerry, Google Android, embedded Linux, and Symbian OS. ICT 100 – Operating Systems Page 8 of 9 Library Programs A library program is available to all users of a multi-user computer system, typically to carry out common tasks required by everyone. For example a routine that searches for lost files or restores corrupted files may be stored in a library. Utility Programs A utility program, also called a utility, is a type of system software that allows a user to perform maintenance-type tasks, usually related to managing a computer, its devices, or its programs. Most operating systems include several built-in utility programs. Users can also buy stand-alone utility programs. Utility programs perform common tasks that thousands of computer users need to do at some time or another, such as searching for files, viewing images, backing up files and disks, uninstalling programs, defragmenting disks, burning optical discs, and so on. One common utility is compression software such as WinZip that ‘zips’ files so that they occupy less space. This is very useful if your want to transmit a graphic or large data file over the Internet, as the transmission time will be much reduced. References Shelly, G. B, Vermaat, M. E. (2010). Discovering Computers 2011. Boston, MA: Course Technology Daley, B. (2008). Computers Are Your Future 2007. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education Heathcote, P. M, Langfield, S. (2004). ‘A’ Level Computing, 5th edition. Oxford: Payne-Gallway Publishers Ltd ICT 100 – Operating Systems Page 9 of 9 How to cite Computer Operating Systems, Essay examples