A vital software for computers that manages computer hardware, software resources of the computer and services essential for programs is a modern Operating System (OS) .It acts as an intermediary between applications and hardware to ensure effective use of resources and security.
An operating system is a basic software that administers the computer’s hardware and software resources. Traditional operating systems are concerned with memory management, process scheduling, input/output operations as well as user interfaces.Whereas, Modern operating systems refer to advanced OSs intended with improved features to meet the present day computing needs. They support multitasking, multiprocessing, graphical user interfaces (GUIs), virtual memory management, feature rich file systems that have strong security measures.
Significance of modern operating system across various devices:
a. Desktops and Laptops: Windows-powered desktops/laptops like macOS and various Linux distributions help people do their work while they can still be entertained or interacted with.
b. Smartphones: Android smartphones such as Samsung, Google Pixel (Android) iPhone (iOS), providing platforms for different types of apps and services.
c. Gaming Consoles: PlayStation (modified FreeBSD), Xbox (modified Windows kernel) and Nintendo Switch (Custom OS) use specific operating systems for gaming.
d. Smart Home Devices: This refers to the Linux embedded in devices such as Amazon Echo, and Android Things found in smart home gadgets like thermostats, webcams and more.
e. Web Browsers: Operating systems on which browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Safari are available including ( Windows , macOS , Linux ) .
f. Social Media Apps: These are applications that can be supported by Android and iOS—Facebook, Instagram, Twitter etc.—that allow social interactions and sharing of content.
g. Educational Institutions: The operating systems running computers and tablets in schools or universities are involved in research, online classes, education apps and others.
There are 5 types of Modern Operating Systems:
1. Single-user, Single-tasking: This includes early versions of MS-DOS for example where only one program runs at a time.
2. Single-user, Multi-tasking: For instance some desktop OSes such as Windows 10, Mac OS X or some Linux distros can run multiple programs at the same time.
3. Multi-user: It is common to see Unix or any linux distributions used in server environments that enable multiple users access the system simultaneously.
4. Real-time Operating Systems (RTOS): An Operating System (OS) is a critical real-time application (embedded systems, industrial controls) with strict timing constraints.
5. A network operating system (NOS), on the other hand, is designed to support network functions and control LANs/WANs such as Novell NetWare, Windows Server, Unix/Linux servers.
Modern operating systems are flexible frameworks that underpin a wide range of technological applications geared towards efficiency, security and seamless user experiences across devices and environments.
