Information and Communication Technology

3.2.1 The Operating System 

Every computer has a layer of special software that gives life to the hardware. When we turn a computer on, a firmware built into it runs this special software which then continues to operate as long as the computer is on. This special software is known as the operating system (OS). This is perhaps the most complex and important software running on a computer.

The operati ng system, as its name implies, oversees all computer operations. It not only coordinates the operations of hardware units such as CPU, memory, keyboard, video display system, and disk drives but also provides an interface for users to communicate with the computer and run application programmes.