Operating Systems

As research and business requirements change, operating systems evolve to solve problems unique to those environments. Linus Torvalds developed Linux because he was not satisfied with Tanenbaum’s MINIX. David Cutler developed Windows NT to function much like VMS while Bill Gates had aspirations for NT to replace Unix. These business, personal, and academic influences have all impacted the current operating system landscape.

Using your textbook, credible sources, and your own professional or student experiences, respond to the following:

• Outline the major influences that led to the development of the modern operating system of your choice. You may select any desktop or mobile operating system you like such as Windows, Linux, Mac OS X, Android, or iOS.

• Identify a trend that could influence the development of future operating systems. Be sure to clarify if the trend impacts desktop, servers, or mobile operating systems. Examples of trends that could conceivably impact future operating systems include wearable devices, such as the Apple Watch, or credit-card-sized computers, such as the Raspberry Pi. Use research and your imagination to identify other trends like these.