Final answer:
It is true that buffers controlled by I/O utilities and not by application processes are a key aspect of I/O operations. These buffers manage data flow and enhance performance by mitigating speed differences between devices and the CPU.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement, "A key aspect of I/O is the use of buffers that are controlled by I/O utilities rather than by application processes," is true. In computer systems, input/output (I/O) operations often make use of buffers, which are temporary storage areas managed by the system's I/O utilities. These buffers help to balance the speed differences between the I/O devices and the CPU, as well as manage the data streaming.
Application processes typically request I/O operations through system calls and do not manage the buffers directly; instead, the operating system, with its I/O utilities or subsystems, manages these buffers. The use of these buffers is transparent to the application, which ensures a smoother and more efficient data flow. For example, when a program writes data to a file, it sends the data to an output buffer. The actual transfer of data from the buffer to the file may happen at a later time, possibly when the buffer is full or when system resources are available for the write operation.
This method of buffering enhances the overall performance of computer systems by allowing the CPU to process other tasks while waiting for I/O operations to complete, hence it's considered a key aspect of I/O.