Domain 3: Applications, Software, and Digital Media Essentials

Essential Question:

How do operating systems, applications, and media formats work together to process, store, and display digital information?

🔑 Vocabulary (Students Copy)

Operating System (OS) — core system software that manages files, hardware, memory, and applications.

Driver — software that allows hardware to communicate with the OS.

Application Software — programs that perform tasks (games, browsers, editors).

Utility Software — tools that maintain system health (antivirus, backup tools).

Sampling Rate — number of sound samples taken per second (Hz).

Bit Depth — number of bits used per sample (affects audio quality).

Frame Rate — number of frames displayed per second in video (fps).

Resolution — number of pixels on a screen or video (ex: 1920×1080).

Compression — reducing file size by removing or encoding data differently.

Codec — software that encodes or decodes audio/video formats (MP3, H.264).

📘 Focus Notes — Thursday, FULL DETAIL

(Students copy word-for-word.)

1. Operating Systems: What They Actually Do