THE INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT (IPAM)

UNIVERSITY OF SIERRA LEONE (USL)

COURSE: BSC IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

MODULE: INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY

MODULE CODE: CUM113

ASSIGNMENT:

1. It is believed by some scholars that the Operating System is the Master instructor. To what
extent do you agree with the above statement? Using five major functions of an operating
system to support your arguments.

2. with respect to Information and Communication Technology, vividly describe how computer
technologies have aided in revolutionizing the world.

LEVEL: UNDERGRADUATE (YEAR ONE)

SHIFT: EVENING SHIFT

SEMESTER: FIRST

LECTURER: MR. CRISPIN GEORGE (cgeorge@ipam,edu.sl)

STUDENT: AMINATA SANKOH

REGISTRATION NUMBER: 23857

SUBMISSION DATE: 18.02.2019

Submitted by: Aminata Sankoh

Introduction:

I completely agree with the statement that the operating system (or OS) is the master instructor.
A computer's operating system is one of the most important “parts” of the computer. Almost
every type of computer including mobile telephones, video game systems, E-book readers, and
DVRs needs an operating system in order to operate properly. When one turns on a computer, the
operating system tells the computer what to do by controlling the system resources such as the
processor, memory, disk space, etc. The operating system allows the user to work on the
computer without having to know all the details about how the hardware works. When choosing
an operating system for a business, the primary considerations should be the hardware platform
used, the number of users and attendant system security requirements, the ease of administration,
the adaptability toward different uses, and the different applications that will be employed.

We are living in an era of advanced technology, where every part of our daily lives is related to
the science of craft in one way or another. There’s no doubt that over the years technology has
been responsible for creating amazingly useful resources which put all the information we need
at our fingertips. The development of technology has led to so many mind-blowing discoveries,
better facilities, and better luxuries, but at the same has dramatically changed our daily lives.
Various highly-developed gadgets, connected to the Internet, have changed the way we
communicate, use humor, study, work, shop, play, and behave. It’s not difficult to recognize just
how much of the technology we use on a daily basis from computers, cell phones, laptops,
tablets and TVs to refrigerators and convection ovens that cook food evenly. Here are six ways
technology impacts your daily life.

The Function of Operating Systems

One of the operating system's main tasks is to control the computer's resources both the hardware
and the software. The operating system allocates resources as necessary to ensure that each
application receives the appropriate amount. In addition to resource allocation, operating systems
provide a consistent application interface so that all applications use the hardware in the same
way. This is particularly important if more than one type of computer uses the operating system

Submitted by: Aminata Sankoh

or if the computer's hardware is likely to change. By having a consistent application program
interface (API), software written on one computer can run on other types of computers.
Developers face the challenge of keeping the operating system flexible enough to control
hardware from the thousands of different computer manufacturers.

Operating systems must accomplish the following tasks:

1. Processor management. The operating system needs to allocate enough of the

processor's time to each process and application so that they can run as efficiently as
possible. This is particularly important for multitasking. When the user has multiple
applications and processes running, it is up to the operating system to ensure that they
have enough resources to run properly.

2. Memory storage and management. The operating system needs to ensure that each
process has enough memory to execute the process, while also ensuring that one process
does not use the memory allocated to another process. This must also be done in the most
efficient manner. A computer has four general types of memory. In order of speed, they
are: high-speed cache, main memory, secondary memory, and disk storage. The operating
system must balance the needs of each process with the different types of memory
available.

3. Device management. Most computers have additional hardware, such as printers and
scanners, connected to them. These devices require drivers, or special programs that
translate the electrical signals sent from the operating system or application program to
the hardware device. The operating system manages the input to and output from the
computer. It often assigns high-priority blocks to drivers so that the hardware can be
released and available for the next use as soon as possible.

4. Application interface. Programmers use application program interfaces (APIs) to control

the computer and operating system. As software developers write applications, they can
insert these API functions in their programs. As the operating system encounters these
API functions, it takes the desired action, so the programmer does not need to know the
details of controlling the hardware.

Submitted by: Aminata Sankoh

 5. User interface. The user interface sits as a layer above the operating system. It is the part
of the application through which the user interacts with the application. Some operating
systems, such as Microsoft Windows and Apple Macintosh, use graphical user interfaces.
Other operating systems, such as Unix, use shells.

6 ways Information and Communication Technology aided in revolutionizing the world

1: Improved Communication

The continuous advances in technology have led to the appearance of numerous new methods of
electronic communication, such as social networking websites, emails, voicemails, and video
conferences. These advanced communication tech tools have helped us to eliminate time and
distance as obstacles to effective communication. This is beneficial not only to our personal
relationships, but also to education and business. Technology has improved cultural education by
giving children the opportunity to communicate with other children from different countries and
learn about different cultures.

Even though technology is beneficial to communication and allows people to stay in touch, you
need to find a balance between the cyber world and real world. These technological
advancements might be incredible and important in today’s society, but you must be careful to
not lose sight of the people who are physically around you. While communicating via social
media might be fun and more convenient, it is also harmful to our social skills. Spending quality
time with your friends and family to create memorable experiences is especially important for
happiness.

2: Improved Home Entertainment

Not that long ago, our entertainment experiences used to live in the moment they happened, exist
in our memories and find their way in old-fashioned photographs on wall. Today, that has all
changed due to the rapid growth of the Internet, mobile connectivity, and social networks. One of
the biggest changes, for example, was the switch from videotapes to CDs/DVDs. This enabled
manufacturers to put more data onto the medium. This meant that there were no risks of the tape

Submitted by: Aminata Sankoh

coming out of the player and getting damaged that easily, and due to the small size of the DVDs,
it also meant that a lot more could be stored in the same amount of space.

Another huge technological advance was the introduction of LCD TV. Compared to today’s LCD
TVs, the previous television screens were inefficient, with lower definition and poor quality.
Today we can not only enjoy improved home entertainment, but different types of home
entertainment too: from smart TVs to Xbox units.

3: Improved Housing and Lifestyle

Housing and lifestyle have also been impacted by the modern technology. The majority of the
items that you have in your home today are automated, which makes your life much easier,
organized and safer. Thanks in particular to the advanced technological solutions such automated
door locks security cameras and lighting control, our homes are now more secure than ever. Also,
thanks to the Internet, we have an easy access to all sorts of information, news, and you’re able
to shop online any time of the day or night from the comfort of your own home.

4: Changed Health Industry

There’s no doubt that technology is the driving force behind the huge improvements in
healthcare. The majority of the hospitals today have implemented modern technology in
hospitals and surgical rooms, which has significantly reduced the mistakes made by doctors. The
increased accessibility of treatment is also one of the most amazing ways that technology has
changed health care. Besides the technological advancements in hospitals, there are also many
health phone and desktop apps that allow you to easily monitor your weight, heart rate, and other
health properties at any time of the day. Needless to say, the Internet is our main source of
medical information. A n increasing number of people are now using the Internet to diagnose
themselves by looking for advice from people on the Internet who have experienced the same
symptoms. There are also many suggested treatments and remedies on the web, as well as
alternative solutions. Technology has also enabled doctors to use text messages, videos, and e-
mails to consult colleagues from all over the world, which is especially beneficial to patients and
doctors that live in rural and under-developed areas.

Submitted by: Aminata Sankoh

5: Convenience in Education

Technology has impacted every aspect of our lives today, and education is no exception.
Technology has changed education in so many ways. First, technology has expanded the access
to education and there are huge amounts of information (books, images, videos, audio) that are
available through the Internet and that will enable you to empower yourself with knowledge. In
addition, online courses are on the rise and most of them are free. Modern technology has made
it simple for students to learn from any place in the world through online education. Also,
nowadays students use modern technology in classrooms in order to learn better. For example,
students can use iPads to share visual lessons, presentations, and examples with their peers. This
has made learning much more convenient and more fun, but most importantly – more effective.

6: Convenience of Traveling

Modern transportation technology has made it easier for individuals to travel long distances.
Since transport is an important part of our lives, technology has been regularly working on
making it more efficient and quicker. The first steamship was built in the 1770s, the first steam-
powered train was built in 1798, and the modern car was created in 1886, while the first
powered, controlled flight is believed to have taken place in 1903. Today, we just cannot imagine
life without well-developed means of transport like cars, trains, buses, and airplanes which have
become a basic need. Over the last decade, the automobile industry is experiencing a
technological revolution as the electrical vehicles are taking the world by storm.

Conclusion:

However, looking at all these functionalities, one can deduce that the OS is the master instructor.
It manages all the hardware devices and enables input & output into the computer. It controls
filing of data and allocates system resources as per the need. Thus, it not only controls the
hardware, but also how the system functions and therefore is the master instructor. Technology
has changed our lives by increasing the speed of time. We were human. We invented and

Submitted by: Aminata Sankoh

developed the technologies to change our life to its best. Now that technology is changing our
lives every second. Robots are our new human model and at the end, only robots control this
world. Technology is now trying to go inside our body it’s almost there and the target is human
blood and emotions. So, far! Technology is successful in that. In business, the use of Artificial
Intelligence, cloud computing, machine learning, predictive analytics and business intelligence
tools, applications now creating new methods to conduct, operate and manage the business. The
rise of cloud computing, cloud storage, Artificial intelligence and Machine learning is the
example, that we will be soon on the node that connects our body and capture the data of human
activities in real time.

Submitted by: Aminata Sankoh