Sci.Int.(Lahore),27(1),225-230,2015 ISSN 1013-5316; CODEN: SINTE 8 225
Jan-Feb
CLOUD COMPUTING INFLUENCE ON OPERATING SYSTEM
Zain Tahir, Muhammad Aslam, Mishall Fatima*
Department of Computer Science, UET, Pakistan
* Department of Computer Engineering, NUST Pakistan
Corresponding author: [email protected]
ABSTRACT: In last decade internet usage has increased tremendously. Internet subsequently the Web
has changed the way how people think about using computers in their daily life. This enormous shift
towards the Web is made possible by many internet enable electronic gadgets which provide access
virtually from anywhere to the Web. In this paper, we have studied different Web operating systems in
terms of designs, architecture, and functionalities. A positive association has been found how cloud
computing affects the traditional desktop operating system and shifting it to the cloud, Web, and mobile.
To consolidate our arguments, we have presented case studies of different cloud operating systems like
Windows Azure, Chrome OS, Eye OS, and you OS. However, cloud based operating system would be
main focus in future with involvement of intelligent agents.
Keywords: Cloud computing, Mobile computing, Traditional operating system, Web OS
1. INTRODUCTION
Web is the most emerging platform of this era. It’s a chain of
interlinked hypertext documents placed on Internet, which
may contains various information in the form of text,
images, videos, and various other resources. Web and
Internet are two different terms that are often mistakenly
used together. Internet is a global network of interconnected
computers that uses TCP/IP protocol suite and Web is
actually something that is available by internet, just like e-
mail and many other services. Fast speed emerging Web
technologies have provided a way to access distinct
architectures and helped a lot to migrate towards Web-based
hypermedia systems [11].
Operating systems (OS) are experiencing great changes with
rapid technology advancements. Initially operating systems
were design to meet basic requirement of users but as time
passes user requirements have changed and are not limited to
local system base programs or services. In order to fulfill
user needs, operating system has evolved to meet the latest
challenges.
Formerly, OS was developed to use on single system for
single user, but with development of latest technologies it
adopts the flexibility of performing multiple tasks for
different people at a time, and hence OS expanded itself in a
way that it can be accessed by people over the internet
subsequently through Web to either share data or to execute
any program. This is where concept of Web OS came up.
A Web operating system (WOS) is an interface for users that
provide access to different programs and applications that
resides completely or partially on the Web. It may looks like
the same conventional operating system but it doesn’t
interact directly with hardware of system. Users must have
traditional OS on their computers in order to have access to
cloud or Web based operating system. In Web OS, services
are provided to users through an Internet connection. Web
OS can be accessed using a software or Web browser, it can
provide access to practically any kind of program that could
be run on computer’s desktop. Applications that can be
accessed using the Web OS are Emails, calendars, games,
chat messengers; file management, video, audio, and other
kind of programs as well. Web OS are currently available
and in development phase. The most popular approaches
used to develop Web operating system rely on
Asynchronous JavaScript and XML (AJAX) and flash
technologies.
In last decade internet usage has increased from 9.7% to
34.3% of total world population [9]. Internet subsequently
the Web has revolutionized the way information is
transferred and has change the traditional ways of
communication and information sharing. Internet has
become one of the primary sources of information for
millions of user at home, work or at any place. This huge
shift towards Web is due to various ranges of internet-
enabled devices, which provide access to Web. Usage of
Web and internet has increased to such a level that people
are now depending on it a lot. This is because people now
access and use Web everywhere, on mobile devices,
notebook PCs, E-pads, etc., and it has become an inseparable
part of their lives [10].
With the advancements in internet technologies the concept
of cloud computing is emerging very fast. With cloud
computing user can access data and applications via Web
browser by sitting at any place with any device over the
internet. Cloud computing can help in collaboration of
devices and minimizing the dependency on platform
compatibility. The massive moves towards Cloud computing
and Web-enabled mobile devices have influenced the
traditional operating systems in many important ways.
Operating systems are no more dependent on hardware;
concept of virtualization has mitigated the limitations of
hardware requirement for operating systems. The
technologies like Hyper V, VMware and Virtual PC has
made possible to deploy multiple instances of different
operating systems concurrently at one platform. These
advancements at operating system level are done in order to
accommodate the ongoing needs of Internet and essentially
to satisfy the Web user needs.
According to [7], with latest innovations and developments
in mobile computing, cloud computing, and virtualization, it
is essential that OS must be developed in such a way that the
devices on a network can be utilized by same OS frame
work and common set of applications can be maintained as
well.
Cloud computing is rising as a medium for information
