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Operating Systems and The GUI (TIC Inglés II)

An operating system controls hardware, allows communication between users/applications and hardware, and organizes files. Common operating system types include multi-user, multiprocessing, multitasking, and real-time. Popular operating systems are Windows, Mac OS, Unix, and Linux. The graphical user interface (GUI) evolved from complex command-based interfaces to facilitate user interaction. Apple introduced the first GUI with the 1984 Macintosh using a mouse and elements like windows, icons, menus, and pointers on the desktop. Microsoft later launched Windows with a similar GUI approach.

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64 views3 pages

Operating Systems and The GUI (TIC Inglés II)

An operating system controls hardware, allows communication between users/applications and hardware, and organizes files. Common operating system types include multi-user, multiprocessing, multitasking, and real-time. Popular operating systems are Windows, Mac OS, Unix, and Linux. The graphical user interface (GUI) evolved from complex command-based interfaces to facilitate user interaction. Apple introduced the first GUI with the 1984 Macintosh using a mouse and elements like windows, icons, menus, and pointers on the desktop. Microsoft later launched Windows with a similar GUI approach.

Uploaded by

Joshua González Ponce
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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OPERATING SYSTEMS AND THE GUI An operating system (OS) is a set of programs that control the hardware and

allow people and applications to communicate with the hardware. It is considered the backbone of a computer. Typical functions of the OS are handling input/output operations, running programs and organizing files on disks.

Operating systems can be classified as follows: 1. Multi-user: Allows two or more users to run programs at the same time. Some operating systems permit hundreds or even thousands of concurrent users. 2. Multiprocessing: Supports running a program on more than one CPU. This can come in very handy in some work environments, at schools, and even for some home-computing situations. 3. Multitasking: Allows more than one program to run at a time. 4. Multithreading: Allows different parts of a single program to run simultaneously. 5. Real time: Responds to input instantly. General-purpose operating systems. Real-time operating systems are typically used when computers must react to the consistent input of information without delay. Systems such as DOS and UNIX, are not real-time systems because they require seconds or minutes to respond to input. The most popular operating systems are: The Windows family designed by Microsoft and used in most PCs.
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MAC OS created by Apple and used on Macintosh computers. Unix found on mainframes and workstations in corporate installations, as it supports multi-users. Linux developed under GNU General Public License; anyone can copy its source code, modify and redistribute it. It is used on PCs and in appliances and small devices.

Tux the penguin, mascot of the Linux operating system

The Graphical User Interface The term user interface refers to the standard procedures that the user follows in order to interact with a computer. In the late 1970s and early 80s, the way users accessed computer systems was very complex. They had to memorize and type a lot of commands just to see the contents of a disk, to copy files or to respond to a single prompt. In fact, it was only experts who used computers, so there was no need for a user-friendly interface. In 1984, Apple produced the Macintosh, the first computer with mouse and a graphical user interface (GUI). Macs were designed with one clear aim: to facilitate interaction with the computer. A few years later, Microsoft launched Windows, another operating system based on graphics and intuitive tools. Nowadays, computers are used by all kinds of people, and as a result there is a growing emphasis on accessibility and userfriendly systems. A GUI makes use of a WIMP environment: windows, icons, menus and pointer. The background of the screen is called the desktop, which contains labeled pictures called icons. These icons represent files or folders. Double-clicking a folder icon opens a window which shows the programs, documents and other folders contained within the folder. A drop down menu (or pull-down menu) is a list of options that appears below a menu bar when you click an item. The pointer is the arrow, controlled by the mouse, which lets us choose options from menus.

Icon

Folder

Taskbar

Drop down menu

Desktop

When you run a program, your PC opens a window that lets you work with different tools and menus.

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