User Interfaces

User Interfaces

1. Command Driven User Interfaces

   • User has to type special command words
   • DOS = Disk Operating System
     • Commonly used interface
   • Can be quick to use as long as user knows the right commands
   • Very hard to use if user is a beginner or doesn't know the right commands

2. Menu-Driven Interfaces

   • Offers the user a list of options
   • Options selected by particular keys on the keyboard
   • Most menu-driven systems have a main menu
   • Main menu has options that offer users other menu screens
   • Easy to use
   • Can be quite 'longwinded'

3. Graphical User Interface

   • Most widely used type of GUI = WIMP system
     • WIMP = Windows Icons Menus Pointers
   • Options represented by small picture called Icons
   • Programs are arranged in rectangular boxes called windows
   • Easy to use especially for beginners
   • Needs a lot of RAM to run properly
   • Takes up a large amount of hard disk space

4. User Interface Design

   • user-friendly
   • The way different parts operate should be consistent
   • Layout of screen should be consistent
   • Colours should make it easy to see
   • Sound can be used to alert user, but should also be able to be disabled
   • On-line help