User Interface

User Interface

1. A user interface allows the user to interact with the computer system

2. Graphical user interface

   • Designed to be visual, interactive and intuitive
   • GUIs are WIMP based which stands for Windows, Icons, Menus and Pointers
   • Advantages
     • Easy to use for beginners
     • Do not have to learn complicated commands
     • Lets you exchange data between different software applications
     • A 'help' system included with WIMP interface
   • Disadvantages
     • Takes up larger amount of hardware space than other interfaces
     • Need more Ram (memory) to run
     • Advanced programmers find CLI interfaces easier to use
     • Uses more power than other interfaces

3. Command Line Interfaces

   • Text based so the user has to enter specific commands to complete tasks
   • Advantages
     • Can be much faster than other interfaces if the user knows the commands
     • Needs much less memory than other interfaces
     • Does not use as much CPU processing time than others
     • Does not require Windows to run
     • A cheaper monitor can be used
   • Disadvantages
     • Can be confusing for a beginner
     • Command shave to be typed very precisely. If there is a spelling error the command will fail.
     • You need to learn a large number of commands