User Interface

User Interface

1. Graphical User Interface

   • WIMP - Windows, Icons, Menus, Pointers.
   • Intuitive as you can work the layout yourself
   • Visually Appealing Interface effective for inexperienced users
   • Takes a large amount of Storage

2. Form Based Interface

   • Characteristics
     • shows where data should be entered
     • easily allows data to be entered
     • doesn't allow information to be missed
     • allows simple data validation
   • Prompts the user to answer the questions set
   • makes the user input all information needed
   • Ensures data given is correct through specific areas using validation
   • are used to collect information

3. Menu Driven Interface

   • Lead to further menus and more menus to get to targetted information
   • list of choices on screen
     • After user makes a choice, it leads to more menus
   • Limits choices for user
     • restricts users to areas of a system that dev wants to show
   • allows usage of a touch screen
   • easy to use and intuitive

4. Natural Language Interface

   • Computer asks a question which the user should respond to
     • the computer has limited answers that it believes are sensible.
   • Intuitive to use and appropriate for everyone.
   • don't work in noisy environments if speech activated.
     • may get confused by accents or speech impediments
   • Expert Systems may use this
   • uses human syntax

5. Command Line interface

   • Characteristics
     • user needs to know what commands are available and understand them
     • user needs computer architecture knowledge
     • Sytem is more open to the user, user can find nearly anything on computer
     • Mainly Computer literate people can use this as need to understand commands
   • user writes single line commands for pc to carry out.
   • powerful interface in experienced hands, but frustrating in new hands.