Video: The Story of the Operating System

Introduction

Have you ever wondered what's really happening when you effortlessly switch between your web browser, a word processor, and your music player? What magical force prevents a buggy application from crashing your entire computer? The answer lies in the most important piece of software on any computer: the Operating System (OS).

The OS is the unsung hero of modern computing, managing everything from your files and memory to the hardware itself. But it wasn't always this sophisticated. In this section, we will journey back in time to understand the origins and evolution of operating systems.

Learning Objectives 🎯

By the end of this section, you will be able to:

• Explain the problems in early computing that led to the invention of the OS.
• Describe the transition from manual operations to concepts like batch processing, multitasking, and time-sharing.
• Define fundamental OS concepts such as virtual memory, protected memory, and device drivers.
• Trace the historical lineage from early influential systems like Multics and Unix to the modern OS you use today (like Windows, macOS, Linux, or Android).

Your Task ▶️

Please watch the CrashCourse video embedded below. It provides a fast-paced and engaging overview of the key milestones in the history of operating systems. We recommend taking notes on the major innovations and the key figures or systems mentioned.