
For those actions, system software applications are needed. That access alone does not allow people to write documents, view pictures or surf the internet. Of course, having access to the hardware is still not very useful for the average user. The OS acts as a translation layer, creating user-friendly options, like a graphical user interface (GUI) with point-and-click capability, that are mapped to the hardware command language. This is where an operating system comes in. Direct access and control of this hardware is not user friendly because it only understands certain commands, and theseĬommands are directly tied to the function of the hardware in a way that many people do not understand. The hardware is the foundation of any computing device – the physical pieces such as processors, memory or input/output ports. The operating system, or OS, is best thought of as the middle layer of a basic computing stack, connecting the computer hardware to applications. From network operations to software applications to emerging technology, solutions usually have multiple To define the term operating system, let’s think in terms of stacks – one of the most common models used to describe computer systems. A technical support specialist may also do the following: Your Next Move: Technical Support SpecialistĪ technical support specialist does a range of tasks, from installing software to setting up computer workspaces, as well as solves technical issues that arise on a day-to-day basis.
