The concept of an operating system (OS) as we know it today does not stem from a single inventor but rather evolved through the contributions of many individuals over time. However, one of the earliest and most significant developments in the field of operating systems came from the work of a few key figures and organizations in the 1950s.
In the early days of computing, machines were operated directly by users who interacted with hardware through a series of commands. The need for more efficient management of hardware resources led to the creation of the first operating systems. One of the first instances of an OS was the GM-NAA I/O, developed in 1956 for the IBM 704 by General Motors Research Laboratories and North American Aviation.
Later on, in the 1960s, pioneers like Ken Thompson and Dennis Ritchie at Bell Labs made significant contributions to the development of UNIX, a revolutionary operating system that introduced many concepts still used in modern OS today.
In summary, while there is no single inventor of the operating system, the journey began with collaborative efforts from various individuals and organizations, which laid the foundation for the complex operating systems we rely upon today.