Topic 22 Human-Computer interface

Topic 22 Human-Computer interface

1. Command-line interface

   • instructions using special words/symbols
     • advantages
       • instructions execute quickly
       • instructions are versatile
     • disadvantages
       • need to learn special instructions
       • some commands can be very complex

2. Menu-driven interface

   • menu options displayed to user
     • advantages
       • simple navigation
       • no special instructions to learn
     • disadvantages
       • may be difficult to find a certain option
       • some options may not mean anything to user

3. Graphical user interface

   • images used to represent options (WIMP)
     • advantages
       • pictures are easier to understand
       • low level ICT needed
     • disadvantages
       • large & complex to run
       • uses lot of computer resources (runs slowly)

4. Operating systems

   • functions
     • loads/runs programs
     • maximises use of memory
     • handles inputs/outputs
     • if interrupts occur, it deals with them

5. Real-time systems

   • data processed soon as it's input
   • Examples
     • transactions
     • cinema booking system

6. Parallel-processing systems

   • processing large quantities of data (weather forecasting systems)
   • more than one processor