Understanding Operating Systems: A Historical Perspective

What was the primary method of loading programs into computers in the 1940s?

• Manually by operators

• Using batch processing

• Through network systems

• Automatically by the OS

What major problem did programmers face when computers became more widespread?

• Electricity costs were too high

• Hardware configurations were not uniform

• Internet connectivity issues

• Programming languages were too complex

What is the function of device drivers in operating systems?

• To enhance security features

• To facilitate hardware communication

• To manage user interfaces

• To increase the processing speed

What does multitasking allow in an operating system?

• Simultaneous running of multiple programs

• Faster internet speeds

• Single program focus

• Improved graphics display

How does virtual memory benefit program operations?

• Simplifies memory management

• Enhances the screen resolution

• Increases the storage capacity

• Reduces the CPU usage

What was a significant feature of the Multics operating system?

• It used minimal memory

• It was designed for security

• It supported only one user

• It was primarily for gaming

What led to the development of Unix?

• Need for a less complex system

• Demand for better user interfaces

• Requirement for higher security

• Lack of programming languages

What was a drawback of early versions of MS-DOS?

• It supported too many users

• It lacked multitasking capabilities

• It was too expensive

• It was too complex to use

Which operating system first introduced a graphical user interface?

• Unix

• Windows

• Multics

• MS-DOS

What is a common feature of modern operating systems?

• Batch processing only

• Manual memory management

• Support for multitasking

• Single-user access