Different operating systems have different capabilites. Early operating systems allowed only one program to run at one time. This has improved over time with modern operating systems allowing several different programs to be able to be run at one time.

The ability of the operating system to run more than one program, process or task is called multi-tasking or multi-programming. Different programs can have different priority and programs can interrupt what you are doing.

Mainframe computers and servers must allow more than one person to connect and access information at one time. The ability of the operating system to allow more than one user at one time is called multi-access.

During multi-access the operating system must prevent two people from trying to change one file at the same time, if one user is editing a file then the other user must have read-only access.

Answer the following questions in your jotter.

1. Why is multi-programming useful when you send a document to print?

2. Why is multi-programming useful when downloading a file from the Internet?

3. Describe another situation where multi-programming would be useful.

4. Why is multi-access useful in the ICT labs?

5. Why is multi-access to the school database useful?

6. Describe another situation where multi-access would be useful

7. Describe a situation where you have seen an interrupt.

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