The most important system software package for any computer is its operating system. An operating system by definition is an integrated system of programs that manage the operations of the CPU, controls the input/output and storage resources and activities of the computer system, and provides various support services as the computer executes the application programs of users.
An operating system performs five basic functions in the operation of a computer system: providing a user interface, resource management, task management, file management, and utilities and support services. Operating systems provide the look and feel of a system known as the environment. The environment is affected by different parts of the operating system — called the kernel and shell. Commands are accepted by the shell through drivers – small programs that translate commands into language that hardware understands. The operating system looks after the startup, speed, and storage functions.
Evolutionary information systems call for more demanding support from the operating systems. Operating systems today come integrated with web browsers as part of the operating system support. An example of browsers coming integrated with the OS is Microsoft’s Internet Explorer 4.0. IE allows access to both local and global information through the browser. These features are a source of convenience to some and an annoyance to others.
According to a survey conducted by CNN when Microsoft introduced Internet Explorer in 1997, some readers raised concerns about general browser instability, as well as the time it takes to pull up a local file on “Internet speed” instead of “processor speed.” Readers also resented that they may be forced to use Internet Explorer on their Windows-compatible computers. Readers in favor of the seamless interface felt that total integration between all applications is inevitable as computing becomes more about retrieving information, both from PC hard drives and Internet servers.
Today more and more companies are making a web browser part of the standard desktop environment. A webtop is no more than a network computing architecture that allows all of a user’s functionality to be delivered via their web browser. While today most pure ‘webtop’ environments are used in a single function, “heads down” environments like a call center, more and more functionality is being deployed via the webtop every day. This is an evolutionary process. Since most corporate desktops already have a web browser today, IT departments can start using webtop applications any time using existing desktop PCs. Once all the applications for a particular user are available on the webtop, the IT organization can evaluate moving to network Computer clients and further reduce the desktop administration overhead.
By integrating a Web browser into the operating system, it makes the fundamental process of accessing information consistent regardless of the type of information being retrieved. However, Bob Meppelink suspects that the integration of web browsers into the OS will complicate things in the registry. Another limitation of integrating web browsers into OS is that these web browsers need a lot of memory.
However, eventually, any Java-type OS will have to have an Internet interface, such as today’s browsers. The OS, the browser, or both need access to the local and global file systems. A good user interface should be designed around the data that it’s accessing and not depend on where that data resides. A common Web/local interface achieves exactly that. And logically speaking, one interface provides a unified view of the world, which makes things simpler.