2.1.10

Types of Operating System

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Types of Operating System

There are many types of operating systems used in many different capacities.

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Distributed

  • A distributed operating system is one that runs across lots of individual computers, but appears to be one system to the end user.
  • The operating system is run across all of these systems and synchronizes what each system is doing.
  • The users of the system see one unified system for them to use.
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Embedded

  • An embedded operating system is one usually found in a piece of hardware that serves a single purpose.
    • For example, a household washing machine.
  • The OS is usually stored in ROM so it is unchangeable.
  • The OS accepts data from a variety of sensors to control what is happening.
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Multitasking

  • A multitasking operating system is one that is designed to allow the user to do multiple things at the same time.
  • Laptops, PCs and smartphones all have multitasking operating systems where you can be listening to music whilst working on a document.
  • The more things you do, the more system resources are being used, so trying to do too much will slow the system down.
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Multi-user

  • Multi-user operating systems are usually found on supercomputers.
  • A supercomputer is too large and powerful to only allow one person to be able to access it at a time, so they have multiple terminals.
  • Multiple users can login to the system via these terminals and work on the computer at the same time.
  • Each get a share of the computing power of the supercomputer.
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Real-Time

  • A real-time operating system reacts to inputs in as close to real time as possible.
  • This is important for situations where something needs to be monitored constantly.
    • For example, medical tracking systems when tracking heart rates.
  • The OS is usually stored in ROM so that it cannot be changed.
  • The OS will accept data from sensors and make adjustments or actions based on this data.

Jump to other topics

1Components of a Computer

2Software & Software Development

3Exchanging Data

4Data Types, Data Structures & Algorithms

5Legal, Moral, Cultural & Ethical Issues

6Elements of Computational Thinking

6.1Thinking Abstractly

6.2Thinking Ahead

6.3Thinking Procedurally

6.4Thinking Logically

6.5Thinking Concurrently

7Problem Solving & Programming

8Algorithms

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