CHAPTER 2- CLASSES OF USER INTERFACES

1. Command Line Interface

The command line interface is no longer common as a form of basic user interface in everyday

consumer products, but it is still in use under certain circumstances.

Command Line Interface requires users to type appropriate instructions into the command line.

The computer is commanded to first go to the required file or directory. From there, a whole host

of commands become available, from retrieving files to running programs.

The MS-DOS operating system and the command shell in the Windows operating system are

examples of command-line interfaces. In addition, programming language development

platforms such as Python can support command-line interfaces.

 Advantages and Disadvantages

If the user knows the correct commands

For someone who has never used a
then this type of interface can be much
CLI, it can be very confusing
faster than other types of interface

This type of interface needs much less Commands have to be typed precisely.

memory (RAM) in order to use it than If there is a spelling error the command

other user interfaces will fail

If you mis-type an instruction, it is

This type of interface does not use as
often necessary to start from scratch
much CPU processing time as others
again

There are a large number of commands

A low resolution, cheaper monitor can be
which need to be learned - in the case
used with this type of interface
of Unix it can be hundreds

You can't just guess what the

A CLI does not require Windows to run instruction might be and you can't just

'have a go'.

2. Menu-Driven Interface
The menu-driven user interface provides you with a range of commands or options in the form of

a list or menu displayed in full-screen, pop-up, pull-down, or drop-down.

Menu driven interfaces can also be verbal rather than visual. Have you ever made a telephone

call and been asked to 'press 1 for abc, press 2 for def, press 3 for ghi'? eg safaricom cutomer

care service

An ATM is an example of a menu-driven interface.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Extremely easy to use. Someone who has never

A poorly designed menu interface may be
seen the interface before can work out what to
slow to use
do

There are no commands to learn or remember It can be irritating if there are too many
 Advantages and Disadvantages

menu screens to work through - users get

annoyed or bored if it takes too long

You often can't go to the exact place you

Step-by-step options are given so that the user want right at the start. You have to work

doesn't have to remember anything your way through the menu screens even if

you know where you want to get to.

The menu can take up a large part of the

Even if you don't know what to do, you can
screen so you have to keep flicking back
usually guess your way round the options
and forwards between applications

If the menu is poorly designed it might be

Menu interfaces don't have to be visual, they hard to read e.g. writing is too small for

can be spoken - good for telephones or for people with poor sight, colours might clash

visually impaired people and be difficult to read, font style might be

hard to read.

They don't need huge amounts of processing

power or memory

It is fairly easy for the software programmer to

create the same menus in a different language

3. Natural language interfaces

Natural language interfaces allow the user to interact using written or spoken 'human'

commands instead of computer language. ... For example, Siri, Alexa, Google Assistant or

Cortana are natural language interfaces that allows you to interact with your device's

operating system using your own spoken language.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVAb_0OFjA8- video for Google assistant features eg

song humming, reminders for certain tasks eg to take your medicine etc

Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages Disadvantages

Reliability remains an issue - the interface can

The user does not need to be trained on
only respond to commands that have been
how to use the interface
programmed

Highly complex to program and so only warrants

More flexibility than a dialogue interface this kind of interface where other types of

interface are unsuitable

Not widely available as other forms of interface

Suitable for physically handicapped people
are often superior

A voice interface might need training in order to

get the software to recognise what the user is

 Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages Disadvantages

saying

4. Forms Interface

This is a method of enabling you to interact with an application.

The form normally provides limited choices as to the use.

For example, a form interface for setting text characteristics in application software might offer

the choices of selecting font size, colour, style.

A form interface which will allow you to interact with the system software might offer choices

such as selecting your screen resolution, default language, keyboard style etc.

A form interface can also be used to enter data into a system, for example a database system will

usually allow you to create a form to enter data into tables.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages Disadvantages

Easy to program Only limited options presented

Easy for user to see the Visually impaired people might have trouble seeing

options available the text or options

Not good for highly complex applications, for

Data validation can be used
example, a tax form might have 20 pages of options
on data entry forms
that need to be completed

Fast to enter data or to make

choices

Little or no training required

They don't need huge

amounts of processing power

or memory
5. Dialogue Interface

This is a way of interacting with your environment by means of the spoken word.

For example many modern cars have a dialogue interface to allow control of the radio and

mobile phone whilst driving. The driver simply says a certain command word such as 'Radio 2'

whilst the car is in 'listening mode'. The computer controlling the interface will make sense of the

command and take action, switching the radio to radio 2.

Another example might be in a 'smart home' where the user can control the temperature, light

intensity, sound systems or curtains being closed by the use of spoken commands.

In order for these interfaces to work effectively they need to be 'trained' with the user. This

involves the user speaking the commands until the system accepts the command and reacts

appropriately.
Once training is complete the system becomes quite reliable in understanding the user

commands. However, noise in the background can be a problem and may interfere with the

interface understanding the command.

Dialogue interfaces often have a limited vocabulary.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Allows hands free control - useful to ensure

Only limited uses
safety when driving for example.

Useful for physically disabled users Expensive to develop

Training session with user required

May not operate reliably if there is

background noise

Not suitable for safety critical

commands such as 'stop'

6. WIMP or GUI Interface

A graphical user interface is the most common type of user interface seen today. it is a very

friendly way for people to interact with the computer because it makes use of pictures, graphics

and icons - hence why it is called 'graphical'.

A GUI (pronounced gooey) is also known as a WIMP interface because it makes use of:

Windows - a rectangular area on the screen where the commonly used applications run

Icons - a picture or symbol which is used to represent a software application or hardware device

Menus - a list of options from which the user can choose what they require

Pointers - a symbol such as an arrow which moves around the screen as you move your mouse.

Helps you to select objects.

All modern operating systems have at least one type of GUI. For example Microsoft Windows is

a GUI, Apple Macintosh has another. Linux has a number of Graphical User Interfaces available.

Many programs that run in Windows are known as WYSIWYG - this stands

for What You See Is What You Get. In the early days of word-processors, you typed your essay

or letter on the screen, but it could look completely different on the printer. A GUI normally tries

to ensure that whatever you create on the screen will be very similar to what appears on the

printer or the web.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages Disadvantages

This type of user interface is easy to GUIs take up a much larger amount of hard

use, especially for a beginner disk space than other interfaces

It is easy to explore and find your

They need significantly more memory
way around the system using a
(RAM) to run than other interface types
WIMP/ GUI interface

You do not have to learn They use more processing power than other

complicated commands types of interface

There are usually good help They can be slow for experienced

facilities provided with WIMP programmers to use. These people often find

interfaces CLI interfaces faster to use

You get the benefits of WYSIWYG

 Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages Disadvantages

They let you exchange data between

different software applications

7. Gesture based interfaces

- allows computers to capture and interprete human gestures as commands

- Refers to using specific gestures like scrolling, pinching and tapping an interface

- Gestural user interfaces and gesture recognition technology has evolved from very basic

motions and applications to the complex and is now a part of everyday life for a huge

number of people.

- The Samsung Galaxy S4 is an example of one smartphone that has taken gesture user

interface a step further. The phone tracks and recognizes your eye movement and

automatically scrolls down as your eyes reach the bottom of the page.
 Merits Demerits

Computer can track the movement of each Less accuracy

eye

It can be used by some users who cannot use Needs to accurately interprete the movements

input devices made by the human user.

Tracking individual finger and eyeball

requires highly accurate cameras or sensors

It can be very difficult to control a pointer

when a finger is mid-air rather than firmly

fixed to touch screen.

User Interface Design Guidelines

1. Naturalness:

Dialogue which does not cause the user to significantly alter his or her approach to the

task in order to interact with the system

The ordering of the user input is important; it should be geared towards the normal

order of working of the user rather than whatever is easier for the programmer

Phrasing should be self-explanatory, e.g. print, copy end have obvious meanings

whereas „pip‟ (CP/M – control program for microcomputers- keyword for copy) or

„mv‟(UNIX keyword for rename) do not.

Use of non-standard abbreviations should be avoided since they slow down word

recognition and introduce unnecessary stress.

2. Consistency

A consistent dialogue ensures that expectations which the user builds up through using one part

of the system are not frustrated by idiosyncratic changes in the conventions used in another part.

Consistent layout for screens which fulfill a similar function ensures that the user knows where

to look for instructions, error messages etc

The dialogue should also be consistent with established norms.

Diversions from norms will cause confusion

3. Non-Redundancy:

A non- redundant dialogue requires the user to enter only the minimum information

for the system’s operation

Too much information on one screen is detrimental to the clarity of the screen and

will lead to unnecessarily delay when the user tries to „spot‟ a particular field or item.

4. Supportiveness:
Refers to the amount of assistance which the dialogue provides to the user in running

the system.

It has three major aspects: the quantity and quality of instructions provided; the

nature of the error messages produced and the confirmation of what the system is doing.

Inputs should be confirmed: if their acceptance will result in an irreversible action, for

example, delete file; if a code has been entered and the user has to check the associated

description or when confirmation of completion of particular actions is desirable.

5. Flexibility:

This depends largely on the skill and expertise of the user in relation to a given task. Different

types of dialogue may be used in different situations e.g. a hierarchical menu structure for use by

a first time user may be navigated using commands and parameters.