So what is wrong with today's operating systems ?

Plenty. Whereas the hardware for today's desk top PCs has advanced at an ever increasing pace, the operating systems have not matched up to the hardware. To be sure, there has been progress. The world of windows is a significant advance on the primitive command line interface of the original PC operating systems. But this represents merely a catching up with the state of the art of thirty years ago. The cost power ratio of current microprocessors would have amazed the pioneers at IBM who developed these things, but they would not have been too impressed with the operating system.

With the advent of Object Orientation in computer software, there is already a noticeable change in the way that application programs are being viewed. It is increasingly common to think of collecting software objects with particular expertise, perhaps from a variety of sources, and 'gluing' them together to provide a service for the user. I believe that the PC controller should develop into an environment where such objects can be glued together. In other words, the controller becomes a mediator between the user and a large collection of 'intelligent' objects. The controller will need to know how to deal with such objects, how to talk to them, how to report on their activities, and generally how to keep them in order and doing useful things that the user wants. For example, I would like to be able to give a task to my PC and say 'keep me updated', or 'report back tomorrow', or next week, or whatever. I would also like to be able to say 'don't bother me now, come back later', or 'do not disturb'.

operating systems is just that - the name. I either have to spell it out all the time, or fall back on the somewhat cryptic OS; and what exactly does 'operating system' mean to the average PC user? It sounds more like something you expect to find in a hospital than on a home computer. What is needed is a name that is more user friendly, and represents better the relationship I believe should exist between the PC and the user. In a world where the average user is well used to the infra red controller to zap the TV, hi-fi or VCR, I suggest that Controller is a better word to use than operating system, so that is what I shall use.

To give a simple example - I use my PC most days, I have used it hundreds of times, but yet it doesn't even know my name! In fact, it knows absolutely nothing about me at all. Every time I come to use the PC, it comes as a complete surprise to it. It has no memory of me, of my habits, my working practices, my family, my friends or my interests. We are complete and utter strangers. I believe this has to change, and with the power of tomorrow's PCs, it will change.

Some common words found in the essay are:
PC Tomorrow's, Object Orientation, PC LAN, Plenty Whereas, BT UK, TV TV, Tomorrow's PCs, software objects, pc controller, operating systems, Bibliography Sorry, pcs home, pc user, application programs, home entertainment, operating system, wide service, various tasks, home entertainment systems,
Approximate Word count = 2760
Approximate Pages = 11 (250 words per page double spaced)