Faculty of Science

The Evolution of Operating Systems

Prepared by: Sertaikyzy A

Checked by: Nauryzova N.K.
The Evolution of Operating
Systems

The year is 2022 and the Operating System (OS) is a ubiquitous,

widely recognized concept. This software program forms the
mainstay of all computing technology, from laptops to mobile
phones. Even a casual tech user is now familiar with various
operating systems in the market. While the history of electronic
digital systems and computing precedes operating systems, the
invention of the OS around the 1950-60s can be considered a
true turning point that revolutionised the computer era.
Batch Operating Systems

Early computers, or first-generation computers, used vacuum tubes and

plugboards to build calculating engines. No operating systems existed,
and all programming was done in machine language, with wired
plugboards controlling the machine’s basic functions. During the 1950-
60s, the world saw a transition from vacuum tubes to more sophisticated
transistors. In the early 1950s, England’s Manchester University began
experimenting with transistors, which used batch operating systems and
did away with manual operation.
 Atlas

By the mid-1950s, General Motors had produced

operating systems for IBM mainframes, with GM-
NAA I/O for IBM 704 being one of the first early
prototypes. Soon after in 1962, Manchester
University, in collaboration with Ferranti Computers
and Plessey, launched Atlas – the fastest computer
at the time. With it was unveiled the idea of “virtual
memory” and the Atlas Supervisor, now widely
regarded as the first real modern operating system.
 Multiprogramming Operating Systems

As newer hardware and software were rapidly developed, systems soon became multi-programmed. In the 1970–80s, the idea of timesharing
(or time-slicing) was introduced. Multiple terminals could now be connected to the computer, with each managing different jobs (or processes).
The OS handled these terminals as well as user interaction. Around this decade, there was increasing emphasis on the need for operating
systems to not be model specific.
DOS

Between the mid-1960s to the late 1970s, IBM announced and

delivered System/360 (a family of mainframe computers that could
execute a range of both commercial and scientific applications),
with DOS/360 (disk operating systems, also known simply as DOS)
as its operating system, suited for text-based applications such as
word processors and spreadsheets. DOS quickly became the most
popular OS in its time.
 The PC Revolution:
Democratizing Technology

The computers of the 1970–80s were designed for

large-scale operations and process-intensive
applications. Post the 1980s, however, the
development of large-scale integration (LSI) circuits
(containing thousands of transistors) reduced the
price of computers, leading to the production of
personal computers. The PC revolution promised to
empower individuals and businesses alike and
necessitated the development of operating systems
that could handle the increasing demands.
OS/2

In 1984, the Apple Macintosh became the first truly

consumer-friendly operating system and the populace
officially transitioned out of DOS – setting the stage for
enterprise-oriented operating systems. Around the same
time, Microsoft and IBM jointly developed the Operating
System/2 (OS/2) in the mid-1980s; the OS/2 made it easy for
consumers to work on spreadsheets and databases and
mainstreamed consumer usage of PCs in business. In 1985,
Microsoft launched its first version of Windows.
The rest – as we know –
is history
 For enterprises in the current climate, the top crucial functions
of an OS include:

2. Ensuring smooth 3. Monitoring time and

1. Protecting the
functioning of all resources to track
organization from
systems and controlling
security breaches resource usage
system performance
Advantage

In 2022, some of the most widely used operating systems include

Windows 10, the Apple iOS, Windows 7, Android, Red Hat
Enterprise Linux, Ubuntu, and CentOS. Each such OS has its own
advantage. Open-source operating systems such as Linux are often
highly customizable and better suited for development capabilities.
Proprietary OS such as the MacOS are more rigid and controlled,
with updates dependent on vendor discretion, and often come
preinstalled on specific hardware devices. At the same time, open-
source operating systems may require more in-depth technical
knowledge, which may not always be ideal from an
end-user/employee perspective.
The Windows OS supports numerous management features and is
one of the most popular OS among businesses. It upgrades
periodically to keep the OS relevant and user-friendly, ensuring that
a diverse range of applications is supported without slowing the
system down. The macOS, which runs only on Apple computers and
devices, has a low rate of hardware and software errors. Linux holds
the advantage of being free, less vulnerable to virus attacks, and
extremely adaptable with other software distributions.
Conclusion

Operating systems are an evolving work in progress. Developers

learn lessons from previous concepts to improve the next. Batch
Process overcame the problem of scheduling and job setup posed
by Serial Processing. However, it was still an inefficient system
causing long delays between jobs. Both Multitasking and Time-
Sharing resolved the issues of processor idle time allowing multiple
jobs and users to interact simultaneously. Hardware vendors have
an important role with improving performance by creating better
processors and I/O controls. Current technology continues using
Multitasking and Time-Sharing concepts.
THANK YOU