Styles of User Interface

Learning Objectives:By the end of this topic you should be able to:

• describe the characteristics of different styles of user interface,

• describe appropriate uses of different styles of user interface.

Styles of Interface

Styles of Interface

Styles of Interface

What are the characteristics of these Styles of Interface?

• Command Based

• Forms

• Dialogue

• Natural Language

• WIMP

Command Based (CLI)• command prompt on screen

- e.g. MSDOS prompt

• commands are typed - text-based via keyboard

• need to know command language- only for experts- technical problem solving

• requires very little processing power

Forms• represents piece of paper to fill in on-screen

- used for data entry- e.g. registering as new member

• prompts giving assistance- labels

• boxes to enter data• user can be given choices

- list boxes, drop-down menus, radio buttons

• validation checks can be made- certain fields can be made compulsory

• input useful for novice users

Dialogue• dialogue box shown• prompts given• questions asked

- choices to be made• responses given

Natural Language

Natural Language• user types or speaks in normal everyday language

- computer responds to commands (or reserved words)- e.g. Microsoft Help & Google search engine

• useful for novice users - no need to understand the computer software to use it.

• vocal input (via microphone): - useful for physically handicapped people.

• e.g. writing a letter/searching the web

- difficult to use in noisy areas- need to train software to recognise accents

GUI

GUI• Graphical User Interface (GUI)• WIMP

Window: area of the screen contains grouped icons/elementsIcons: use of pictures to represent objects or actionsMenus: predefined, grouped list of options (pop-up/drop down)Pointers: pointer shape indicates action to be performed

• memory & processor intensive• direct manipulation interface

- ‘drag & drop’

GUI

GUI

Menus/SubmenusFeatures:• series of related items which can be

selected with pointer- that drop down/pop up- can be cascaded – contextual- submenus

• structured into options- separated by function

Menus/Submenus

Menus/Submenus