What term describes the technique enabling multiple users to access a computer simultaneously?

Prepare for the WGU ICSC2211 D684 Introduction to Computer Science Test. Enhance your knowledge with flashcards and multiple-choice questions, each featuring hints and explanations. Gear up for your exam success!

The term that defines the technique allowing multiple users to access a computer simultaneously is timesharing. This approach divides the computer's time among users or tasks, making it appear as if multiple processes are running at the same time. By rapidly switching between users' requests, the system can give the impression of concurrent usage even though the underlying hardware is executing tasks sequentially.

Timesharing systems improve efficiency and resource utilization by allowing many users to share system resources effectively. Each user can interact with their own session without being aware of other concurrent processes, enhancing user experience and productivity.

Multiprocessing refers to the use of multiple processors to execute tasks, while batch processing refers to the execution of a series of tasks collected into batches, typically without user interaction during execution. Time-slicing is a technique typically associated with scheduling within the broader concept of timesharing, as it describes how the CPU is allocated to different processes within that shared time. However, timesharing more accurately describes the overall capability for multiple users to access and interact with a system simultaneously.

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