Welcome Back to OS! 👋
You’ve covered the basics of computing with binary and the hardware layer of computer architecture. Now, it's time to move on to the next layer: the operating system. By the end of this lesson, you'll:
Understand what an operating system is.
Learn what makes up an operating system.
Gain hands-on experience with the three major operating systems used today.
About the Instructor 👩💻
Hello! I’m Cindy Gouache, a Site Reliability Engineer at Google. My team manages and supports Google’s internal mobile fleet, which includes:
Android OS
iOS
Chrome OS
However, my journey in tech started in a different role:
I was first a systems administrator on the Linux team.
Before that, I worked as an Operations Engineer.
Like many Googlers, I started my career as an IT support specialist. I've now been in IT for seven years.
My Journey into Tech 🚀
Early Exposure
The first time I interacted with computers was in middle school when my teacher introduced us to fun video and multimedia projects. At home, my brother introduced me to technology.
Family Background
My parents were immigrants from Vietnam, and we didn’t have a lot of money growing up. We had to be resourceful to get a computer at home. I remember spending hours with my brother while he assembled a computer, constantly asking him questions.
Building My Own Computer
Eventually, I wanted to build my own computer:
I gathered old parts and saved money for new components.
Tried assembling everything based on what I learned from my brother.
It didn’t work—I had used incompatible parts.
After a lot of trial and error, troubleshooting, and long search sessions on the Internet, I finally got it working. Hearing my computer boot up for the first time was an amazing feeling! 🎉
Realizing My Passion
Once I got to college, I took a job as an IT support specialist to help pay for tuition. That’s when I realized that tech was something I could pursue as a career. I love the intense concentration and problem-solving required in IT.
The Importance of Operating Systems 💡
Operating systems are essential in IT support. Everyone uses their computer for various tasks, whether it’s:
Browsing the web
Writing a novel
Creating graphics
Playing video games
To accomplish any of these, users need to interact with their operating system. As an IT support specialist, it’s crucial to understand how operating systems work so you can help others with tasks such as:
Figuring out why an application won’t start.
Troubleshooting issues with graphics in games.
Resolving any other system-related problems.
Things can get messy, but that’s what makes it exciting!
Let’s dive in! 🚀
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