user interface

user interface

1. Graphics User Interface

   • Graphics User Interface is a 'friendly' way for people to interact with the computer because it makes use of pictures, graphics and icons, thats why its called graphical. It is also known as WIMP interface because it uses: Windows, Icons, Menus and Pointers
   • All modern operating systems have at least one type of GUI. For example Microsoft Windows is a GUI, Apple Macintosh has another and Linux has a number of GUI available
   • Advantages of a GUI: Easy to use, easy to explore and find your way around, What You See Is What You Get and no complicated commands to use
   • The Disadvantage of GUI: they take up a large amount of space, they need significantly more memory (RAM) to run than other interfaces types and they can slow the for experienced programmers to use

2. Command line Interface

   • Command Line Interface allows the user to interact directly with the computer system by typing in the commands into a screen but the computer will only eact to a dinfinite set of words. Before Windows was developed, this type of user interface was what people used to get the computer to follow instructions. Now only a few people have the knowledge to use the Command Line Interface
   • An example of Command line interface is DOS (DIsk Operating System)
   • Advantages Of Command Line User Interface: If the user know the correct commands then this interface will be much faster then the others, this interface needs less memory(RAM) and a cheaper moniter can be used with this iterface because of the low resolution
   • Disadvantage of Command Line Interface: it can be very confusing, if spelt wrong the command wont work, if you mistype an instruction you will have to start from scratch again and there are a large number of commands to learn you cant just guess the instructions

3. Menu Driven Interface

   • this interface allows you to interact with a computer by working through a series of screens or menus. Menu Driven Interfces can be verbal rather then visual. Most softwares you use have menu interfaces.
   • Advantages of Menu Interface: Easy to use, No commands to remember and step by step options are given
   • Examples of Menu Driven Interfaces are IPods, mobile phones, ATMs
   • Disadvantages of Menu Driven Interface: poor design, slow and can be irratating if there are too many menus open