Operating Systems

• Operating System: A collection of software that manages computer hardware resources.
• Operating System Operations: Starts and shuts down computers, coordinates tasks, establishes internet connection, provides UI, configures devices, manages programs and computer storage, provides utilities.
• Basic OS Structure: User Interface where users can interact with the system, Kernel, core/heart of an os.
• GUI: Graphical User Interface contains graphics and icons (often os specific) that are commonly altered or manipulated by input devices such as you optical mouse.
• Multi-User: Allows multiple users to use the same computer.
• Multi-tasking (task switching): Allows multiple software processes to run simultaneously.
• Multi-processing: Supports and utilizes more than one computer processor.
• Multi-threading: Thread - smallest sequence of programmed instructions that can be managed independently, where a single set of code can be used by several processors at different stages of execution of one or more processes.
• Stand alone Operating System: Provides platform for single user for critical operations, mostly network-related operations.
• Server Operating System: Provides platform for multiple users for critical operations, mostly network-related operations.
• Embedded Operating System: Used in embedded systems such as mobile phones, tablets, etc.