Computer multitasking is the process in which a computer runs more than one program at the same time. In the early days of computing, multitasking was almost unheard of, and for decades it was relegated to next-generation mainframes and not available in personal computing. As technology advanced, multitasking became available and quickly evolved to become the industry standard for personal computers. As of 2011, even devices like smartphones are often capable of multitasking, allowing users to browse the Internet and stream music at the same time, for example.
Multitasking operating systems can run more than one program at the same time.
When computing multitasking was in the early stages of development, it was called time sharing, a term that referred to the way multiple programs or processes shared the power of the CPU. At first, this term was superseded by the contemporary term multitasking, although in its earliest incarnations, multitasking was not true multitasking, but rather rapid switching between applications that appeared to be simultaneous. Modern single processor computers can appear to multitask using this technique.
Multiprocessor computers have two or more separate processors that are linked together. These systems, which became more common and more advanced in the early 21st century, are capable of multitasking, although in practice there is no observable difference, other than performance improvement, in the way these systems work in real life. comparison with a single processor. Multiple processors allow many different programs to run at the same time.
System memory still limits the computer’s multitasking. Computer performance is dictated by the speed of the processor, but the number of programs a given processor can run at the same time is also limited by the amount of system memory these programs occupy. A technique called memory swapping allows system memory to be accessed by any currently running program on single-processor systems or delegated as needed on multi-processor systems.
True computer multitasking is said to be affecting the way people live, work, and use their computers, and in a way, that’s true. Multitasking allows you to stream music from an Internet radio service while searching and writing an article at the same time. The limitations of human abilities to multitask will eventually limit the ways that people can use the power of modern computers to multitask. Humans have a limited ability to focus on multiple tasks or activities, making it difficult to interact with more than one software program at the same time.
