GCSE ICT

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GCSE ICT

• User Interfaces

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User interfaces

• The way in which the user of a computer
  communicates with the machine is called the
  Human-Computer Interface or User Interface.
• This is an important function of an operating
  system.

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User interfaces

• A good human-computer or user interface needs
• To be user friendly
• To be attractive to use
• To be effective
• To be easy to use

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User interfaces

• A user friendly interface should make it possible
  for the user to use the software without having
  to read the entire manual first!
• An interface that is attractive to use will
  encourage users to use the software.

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User interfaces

• An effective interface will do its job
  efficiently.
• An easy to use interface will have menu
  structures that are consistent in design and
  layout across several different software packages
  (e.g. the fast save option will be in the same
  place on the toolbar and have the same icon).

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User interfaces

• GUIs (also known as Icons).
• Toolbars.
• Drop-down menus.
• Pop-up menus.
• Combinations of the above.

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Graphic User Interfaces

• Graphic user interfaces (also known as GUIs) are
  usually called ICONS.
• GUIs are small pictures that represent actions,
  and they can be selected by clicking on them
  with the mouse.

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Some examples of GUIs
GUIs or Icons that will activate particular
programs
Microsoft Word
Outlook Express
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Some examples of GUIs used with a toolbar
GIUs or Icons that will activate particular tools
on a Toolbar
Text Justification
Print
Clipboard
Fast Save
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Some examples of toolbars
Microsoft Word
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Access
Note the use of GUIs or Icons that are common to
all the toolbars
Fast Save, Print, and Print Preview
Examples include
Help
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Some examples of drop-down menus
Note that options that are not available are
greyed or ghosted
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Some examples of pop-up menus
The Microsoft Windows Start Menu pops up when
the Start button is pressed
The AutoShapes Menu in Microsoft Word pops up
when the AutoShapes button is pressed
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Other forms of interface

• All the examples shown so far have been point
  and click device driven.
• There are, however, other forms of interface that
  are command and key driven.

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An example of a command driven interface
Before the introduction of GUIs by Apple Mac and
Microsoft, computers had to be given commands in
DOS. These were typed in, and often used
abbreviations.
This example is the command used to view the
directory of all the programs and files in
Windows.
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An example of a key driven interface
This example is taken from the Microsoft Word
Toolbar.
For example
Pressing the Alt and f keys at the same time
selects the File option.
Besides being able to select a command by
clicking on the appropriate word with a mouse,
these options can also be selected by the use of
the keyboard.
Pressing the Alt and o keys together at the
same time selects the Format option.