P2 - Explain the purpose of operating systems

PART 3:

OPERATING SYSTEM
The operating system is part of the system software. All computers have an operating system, they cannot
function without one. The operating system is a program that allows applications software to
communicate with the hardware. Like said before, without the operating system the computer cannot
function and you will not be able to run applications. Sure, the computer will still be physically turned on
due to the BIOS but it will be absolutely useless as the computer cannot communicate with the hardware
or the user.

Below is a diagram of the general components of a computer system. A user wants to see a folder on the
disk, the only way the user can communicate and request the computer to do this is with the operating
system, which communicates with the hardware to show the folder in that disk.
The other user on the other hand wants to print something. Say you’re printing a word-processed
document; the word processor gives you the ability to command the computer to print the document (that
is the application stage). The operating system will receive the command from the user to print; so, the
operating system will communicate with the hardware (which is the printer) to print the specific document
the user would like to print.

USER
want to see a folder on disk




HARDWARE


USER
OPERATING SYSTEM wants to print




APPLICATION PROGRAM