User Interfaces

User Interfaces

1. The two types of interfaces are Graphic User Interface (GUI) and the Command line interface

2. The GUI relies on high resolution graphics as the name suggets; therefore the easy-to-understand icons can be clicked by the pointer to operate a task

3. The GUI is based upon the use of Windows, Icons, Menus and Pointers often referred to as a WIMP interface

4. This system has gained popularity due to its intuitive nature, and once a user has developrdskills in an application package they will be able to transfer those skills to learn futher applications

5. Windows can contain a variety of tasks such as: application software,internet browsers and file management details (for example Windows Explorer)

6. The user can swap between windows by either using the task bar to open windows that have bben minimised or by clicking on the window required at the desktop

7. There are many ways that windows can be customised. How many windows are displayed is very much a matter of preference and several windows can be displayed by tiling them (putting them side by side) on the desktop, and they can also be resized to allow the user to interact with them

8. A benifit of the GUI is that the graphics help to make the system useable as the associated images trigger long term memory, rather than having to learn commands and functions