Technology of a computer fully relies on its operating System. I believe that the operating system pushes the companies to develop better hardware to catch up to the advances in the Kernel itself. According to Merriam-Webster's Dictionary Online, an Operating System is "Software that controls the operation of a computer and directs the processing of programs (as by assigning storage space in memory and controlling input and output functions)" In other words an Operating System is a program that acts between the person using the computer and the computer's hardware. It is required in order for a computer user to be able to utilize the hardware in an efficient manner. Every time you start your computer, the operating system checks to see what video card you have installed which is useful when you need to see the screen! Of course the Os cannot do anything useful by itself, it needs other programs and the User itself to help it. There have been different OS developed in the history of mankind, some have been successful and others have not.
Operating systems started with the famous Unix, they where used for some time by business people for very technical stuff. Unix was a real operating system for real people. Ken Thompson, Dennis Ritchie and other people who worked in the Bell System, made the Unix OS in the early 1970's after separating from General Electrics with an un-successful attempt of trying to achieve that same goal. With Unix, more than one person can run multiple applications at the same time. The system has a Username and Password login, which makes each user save his or her work without worrying of someone messing with it. UNIX will run on just about every platform made, and it requires very little advanced hardware to run smoothly. Like today's windows, Unix has had developments which where made available in stores. After having very good advances from 1971 to 1991 with the First Edition, second Edition, fourth edition,...