A multitasking operating system can run multiple programs at once, with newer systems allocating resources differently to reduce delays. They require more resources and are used in most modern devices, including ATMs and movie ticket systems.
A multitasking operating system is any type of system that can run more than one program at a time. Most modern operating systems are set up to handle multiple programs at once, with the exception of a few privately developed systems designed for use in specific business settings.
With older examples of the multitasking operating system, handling two or more tasks usually involved swapping system resources back and forth between the two running processes. The system will run the tasks for one, block that program for a few seconds, and then run the tasks for the other program. While this approach created a short delay for the operator, this delay was usually no more than a few seconds and still offered significantly greater efficiency than the older single-task operating system.
Over time, popular incarnations of the multitasking operating system developed that used a different approach to allocating resources for each active program. This created a situation where there was virtually no time delay, assuming the equipment driving the system had adequate resources. For the end user, this meant the ability to run multiple tasks simultaneously without waiting for the system to release or redirect resources as each task was completed in turn.
The typical multiple operating system requires more resources than the simple operating systems that were common for desktop computers in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Newer systems require platforms with large amounts of random access memory (RAM) and other types of virtual memory. If resources aren’t available to drive the various applications open and running, the system may slow down to a crawl or even crash an application or two if that’s how the system is configured to avoid overload.
Today, most desktop, laptop, and netbook operating systems run on some kind of multitasking operating system. Even equipment such as ATMs or ATMs still use some kind of multitasking system, using a variety of programs to check balances and execute user requests. There are also examples of movie ticket stub systems that are capable of performing several tasks simultaneously, including posting receipts for purchased tickets, even as the system generates and distributes the purchased tickets.
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