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User Interfaces

Detail info on user interfaces -IT

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11 views3 pages

User Interfaces

Detail info on user interfaces -IT

Uploaded by

wyangaming
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
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USER INTERFACES

A computer-user interface determines how the user interacts with a computer and uses it. It
can be a software interface or a hardware interface. After the computer has booted up and
loaded the operating system, you will see the software user interface (also known as the
human-computer interface).

Software interfaces
Software interfaces help you to interact with different programs that are available on the
computer system. The three common software interfaces are:

There are three (3) main types of user interfaces:

1. Command-line interface

2. Menu-driven interface

3. Graphical user interface (GUI)

Command Driven /Command-line interface


A command driven interface is one in which the user has to key in commands (instructions)
using a special command language. Eg.MS DOS (MicroSoft Disk Operating System).
Advantage – Skilled users can sometimes get tasks done with a single command.
Disadvantage – Users must remember the commands and syntax.
What is the major interface device used? Keyboard
Menu driven Interface

A menu-driven user interface is one where the user can select commands from one or more
menus. A menu can be drop-down/pull down (options displayed in a vertical list by selecting
menu bar option) or pop up (activated by right clicking). Menu-driven interfaces were
developed in order to make the interface ‘friendlier’ and ‘easier to learn’. You can control
the computer by choosing commands and available options from a menu, using the keyboard
or the mouse.

Pull-down menus – these are activated by clicking on an item (such as ‘File’) using the left
mouse button. The menu ‘pulls-down’ just below the menu item. Pop-up menus– are
activated by clicking anywhere on the document screen by using the right mouse button.
Some standard commands and options are cut, copy and paste.

 Adv – User does not have to remember commands.


 DisAdv- All options may not be available in the menu.

Graphical User Interface (GUI)


A Graphical User Interface (GUI) is one that uses images to represent the choices that the
user can make. It makes use of windows, icons, menus and pointers (WIMP interface).
Window – A window is that part of the screen that holds its own document or message.
Icon – An icon is a tiny picture of an object that is displayed on the screen. They represent
programs, folders, files, recycle bin, disk drives and printers.

Menus
A menu is a list of options from which you can choose an action to be done. Application
programs use menus as an easy alternative, instead of having to learn program commands. An
advantage of using menus is that for most programs, the first few menus are always in the
same order (e.g. file, edit, view, insert etc.). They also carry out the same functions no matter
what program you are using. For example, the ‘File’ menu is always first and enables you to
create, save, print etc.
Pointers –A pointer is a graphical representation of the movement of the mouse on the screen.
As the mouse moves, the pointer moves in the same direction. The pointer is a very
important part of a GUI as it enables you to:
Control the computer and to choose window items
Select text in a document
Select cells in a spreadsheet

Adv – Easy for a novice user, no commands to remember.


DisAdv – May be slower than a command driven since many clicks may be required to do
something a single command might be able to do.

Hardware Interfaces
A hardware interface is a device that is used with a computer system to make the interaction
between the user and the system easier.
 Touch Screens – very popular on phones, tablets (ipad), modern laptops, used by
modern operating systems – windows 8.
 Non Visual Interface – Use of sound to represent actions on computer– Voice
recognition/command. Speech synthesis – computer can read documents to user.
 Sensors – detect eye movement to control mouse, blink to click.
 Braille Keyboards – Specialized keyboard used by blind persons.

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