Scribd
Upload
63 views2 pages

User Interfaces

There are two main types of user interfaces: software user interfaces and hardware user interfaces. Software user interfaces include graphical user interfaces (GUIs), command line interfaces (CLIs), and menu-driven interfaces, while hardware user interfaces encompass touch screens and specialized keyboards. A GUI uses visual objects like icons and buttons to interact with a computer in a more user-friendly way than a text-based CLI.

Uploaded by

giana 4e
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
63 views2 pages

User Interfaces

There are two main types of user interfaces: software user interfaces and hardware user interfaces. Software user interfaces include graphical user interfaces (GUIs), command line interfaces (CLIs), and menu-driven interfaces, while hardware user interfaces encompass touch screens and specialized keyboards. A GUI uses visual objects like icons and buttons to interact with a computer in a more user-friendly way than a text-based CLI.

Uploaded by

giana 4e
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

User Interfaces

A user interface is the means in which a user interacts with a computer


system.
There are two main types of user interfaces: Software user interfaces and Hardware
user interfaces.

Some types of software user interfaces:


 graphical user interface (GUI)
 command line interface (CLI)
 menu-driven user interface
Some types of hardware user interfaces:
 touch user interface
 specialized keyboards

A GUI (graphical user interface) is a set of interactive visual components which


display objects that convey information and represent actions that can be taken by
the user.
GUI objects include icons, cursors, and buttons. These graphical elements are
sometimes enhanced with sounds, or visual effects like transparency and drop
shadows.
A GUI is considered to be more user-friendly than a text-based command-line
interface, such as MS-DOS, or the shell of Unix-like operating systems.

A Command Line Interface (CLI) is a command line program that accepts


text input to execute operating system functions.

In the early stages of computers this was the only way to interact with
computers.

Today, with graphical user interfaces (GUI), most users never use command-
line interfaces (CLI).

However, CLI is still used by software developers and system administrators to


configure computers, install software, and access features that are not available
in the graphical interface.

Menu driven interfaces use menus to show the user available commands. When
the user selects a command from the menu it can run a command or open another
menu.
Menu driven interfaces are easy to use as the user does not have to remember sets
of commands and they can be usually navigated easily.
If there are too many levels of menus to move around it may be difficult for users
to locate the specific command they are looking for.
Touch user interfaces work by detecting your finger touching the screen and
translating the sensor information into instructions. As well as tapping, the screen
can sense swiping, pinching and other actions. Touch user interfaces are usually
easy to use and can be used by people of all ages. They can be found on many
mobile devices such as a smart phone or a tablet computer as well as a part of
larger devices such as ATM’s etc.
Specialized keyboards make it easier for users to perform a task or use specific
systems. They have special features that make them suitable to a particular
application.
These features may include:
 extra keys for added functionality
 a reduced set of keys that only include the keys needed for the system
 added tactile features for example Braille dots to allow visually impaired
users to use the keyboard.

You might also like