Operating System

What is the role of the operating system? How does it help you interact with your computer?

After you turn on your computer, the computer reads instructions that are stored in ROM chips. After “booting up”, it runs a diagnostic check that is carried out through a program stored in the BIOS chip. This program, called the POST, ensures that all the computer’s components are working and that the computer does not have any malfunctioning units. If the POST test fails, you would get an error message saying that a component of the computer was not working properly. If everything went smoothly, the operating system would load up.

An operating system is a collection of programs that tells the computer how to function and how to manage its own operations. It also maintains an interface between you (the user) and the machine. The interface is how you react with the computer, whether it is by menus, text, or graphics. This is strictly done between the user and machine. The operating system is the first software that the computer needs to run in order to be able to communicate with the user. Without the operating system, the user cannot perform tasks on the computer. In order to use a computer, the user must be capable in knowing how to use the operating system; it can be thought of as a prerequisite.

On today’s computers, Windows and Macintosh OS are the common forms of operating systems. Windows is commonly used for PC, and Macintosh OS for the Apple Macintosh computer. Both of these use a combination of typed-in text commands, menus with pre-set commands, and icons. Icons are graphics that represent a computer’s option or program. A menu is a listing of command options that appear on the computer screen.

People have tried to make computers a lot more user friendly over the years, especially with the use of a mouse. A mouse is a clickable rolling device that you roll around on your desk, with a cursor on your computer screen. A cursor is an arrow on the screen that is positioned where the mouse is. When you click something with the mouse, wherever the cursor is on the screen, it will click, also. Many people can use a mouse with only little practice. With the computer mouse, you move the mouse to move the cursor. With this technology in hand, you can click on icons, “bring up the menu”, click on options, and tell the computer what to do. With the mouse, you can practically tell the computer to do whatever it needs to do. Then there’s the keyboard. You can type in commands on the keyboard as well, or just word process. When the mouse cannot be used, the keyboard and its many keys (such as F2) can be called into play. All of these components work together to make the computer happen in a way that people can use them.