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Running head: EVOLUTION OF OPERATING SYSTEMS

Operating Systems Lisa K. St. Clair Strayer University CIS155 March 11, 2013 Professor Elhag Ibrahim

EVOLUTION OF OPERATING SYSTEMS

Operating Systems An operating system (OS) is a software program that controls and coordinates computer hardware to communicate and operate with computer software acting as a resource allocator and manager. There are many different types of operating systems and most will fall into one of the following categories: GUI (Graphic Unit Interface); Multi-user; Multiprocessing; and multitasking. Operating Systems are written in a variety of programming languages such as C, C++, UNIX, MS-DOS and many others including Linux. A mobile operating system (mobile OS) is the operating system that combines the features of a personal computer operating systems with mobile devices such as smartphones, tablet, or other types of mobile devices such as a personal digital assistant (PDA). The Early Years The earliest electronic digital computers did not have operating systems. Programs were often entered one bit at time on rows of mechanical switches (plug boards). The General Motors Research Laboratories implemented the first operating systems in early 1950's for their IBM 701. These were called single-stream batch processing systems because programs and data were submitted in groups or batches. Programs were punched into cards that were usually copied to tape for processing. When the computer finished one job, it would immediately start the next one on the tape. Multiprogramming: IBM Prior to 1964 a new OS was created for each new computer. With each new machine, programs and applications would have to be re-written. In April 1964, IBM introduced its new generation of mainframe computers, System/360. The major selling point was the promise that

EVOLUTION OF OPERATING SYSTEMS

programs written for one model would also work in larger models. System/360 also targeted a wide range of customers, from business to science. In late 1966, OS/360 was released by IBM and was the biggest and the most complex program that have ever been attempted. OS/360 was to utilize the technology of multiprogramming as well. Multitasking, Multi-user: UNIX UNIX is a multitasking, multi-user computer operating system designed to run on mini computers. In 1969, AT&T employees at Bell Labs UNIX developed UNIX. The 1970s saw significant developments that broadened the scope and importance of operating systems. The UNIX operating system was first developed in assembly language and by 1973 had been almost entirely recoded in C. This facilitated development and porting to other hardware. UNIX is now the backbone of Linux, Mac OS, and other operating systems. UNIX operating system is particularly noteworthy because this is the only system that has been successfully implemented in every kind of computer from microcomputers to supercomputer. Microprocessors: Personal Computers The development of microprocessor (microchip) in the 1970s enabled technology for personal computers. These processors were actually integrated circuits, which printed thousands of transistors onto small silicon chips. Intel started to market them in November 1971. The first operating system for these microprocessor computers was created called CP/M (Contro Program for Micros) created by Dr. Gary A. Kildall in 1974, while working for Intel Corporation. By 1977, CP/M had become the most popular operating system microcomputer (PC) industry. Microsoft licensed this clone to IBM which marketed it as PC-DOS on the first IBM PC in 1981, and Microsoft marketed it to all other PC OEMs as MS-DOS. The Xerox 8010 Star Information System was the first operating system to have a GUI, in 1981. Shortly after, in 1983, the Apple

EVOLUTION OF OPERATING SYSTEMS

Lisa operating system. In 1985, Microsoft released Microsoft Windows 1.0, the first Microsoft operating system to have a GUI. Mobile Operating Systems Over the past decade, smartphones have taken the world by storm and recently, tablets have entered into the arena as well. Modern mobile operating systems combine the features of a personal computer operating system with touchscreen, cellular, Bluetooth, WiFi, GPS mobile navigation, camera, video camera, speech recognition, voice recorder, music player, Near field communication, and other features. Just like a PC can run different operating systems (like Windows, Linux, BSD etc.) or different versions of the same operating system (like Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 etc.), most smartphones can also run different versions of the operating system they were made for and in exceptional cases, they might even be able to run operating systems they werent made for. In general however, an Android phone will only run a version of Android while an iPhone will only run an iOS version. Manufacturer-built proprietary operating systems Proprietary operating systems are designed for the manufacturer product line. A

characteristic of such operating systems is that they have a very consistent look and feel across all devices that they run on. Apple iOS; RIM Blackberry OS and HP WebOS are all examples of proprietary operating systems. Third Party Proprietary Operating Systems Third party proprietary operating systems are built by companies that do not manufacture devices, but license all devices that they run on. The biggest examples are Windows Mobile and Windows Phone 7, built by Microsoft and found running on smartphones by HTC, Samsung,

EVOLUTION OF OPERATING SYSTEMS

Dell and LG, amongst others. These operating systems also have usually a consistent appearance and behavior across all devices, just like Windows 7 appears and behaves the same regardless of what brand of computer you are running it on. Free & Open Source Operating Systems Free and open source operating systems are built by a company, a group of companies or a community of developers and made available for everyone to modify them in any way they choose, and install them on their choice of devices. Android, Symbian and the upcoming MeeGo are examples of this type of operating system. Hardware manufacturers fine-tune the chosen operating system to best suit their devices and usually add additional features and interfaces to set them apart from other versions of the same operating system. The Cloud: Operating Systems of the future Cloud computing is a general term for anything that involves delivering hosted services over the Internet. Cloud computing allows a company to pay for only as much capacity as is needed, and bring more online as soon as required. A cloud can be private or public. A public cloud sells services to anyone on the Internet. A private cloud is a proprietary network or a data center that supplies hosted services to a limited number of people. In order for end users to benefit from a cloud platform that supports balanced workloads that can scale in a secure manner, the operating system has to be designed to enhance that cloud platform. One of the most important ways to support the underlying complexity of wellmanaged cloud computing resources is through the operating system. The Linux operating system is often used because of its maturity, scalability, manageability, and open source community support which is an important partner in creating a predictable and manageable cloud computing future.

EVOLUTION OF OPERATING SYSTEMS Conclusion

Operating systems have evolved over the past decade to keep pace with the innovation of distributed computing. In the past it was normal to have each application exist as a closed environment. In order to maintain a competitive advantage in business environments that

demand superior customer service and efficient operations, organizations require interoperability across platforms that manage their important applications. Cloud computing will inevitably change the way IT services are delivered across an organizations network of partners, customers, and suppliers.

EVOLUTION OF OPERATING SYSTEMS References http://www.personal.kent.edu/~rmuhamma/OpSystems/Myos/osHistory.htm

http://www.psexam.com/Notes-for-Computer-Science/operating-systems-history-of-operatingsystem-article/The-Rise-of-Apple-Computer.html "The Legacy of the Lisa" (MacWorld magazine, Sep. 1985) as written by Mr. Larry Tesler http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/jan/24/smartphones-timeline http://www.addictivetips.com/mobile/an-introduction-to-modern-mobile-operating-systems/ http://computer.howstuffworks.com/operating-system2.htm http://www.techinterviews.com/operating-system-questions http://www.computerhope.com/os.htm#01

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