05 Desktop User Interfaces

Question 1

4 Generations of User Interfaces

Answer 1

1. Batch processing, no interactive use
2. Commands with parameters
3. Graphical user interfaces (WIMP)
4. Post-WIMP interfaces

Question 2

What does REPL mean?

Answer 2

Read-Eval-Print Loop (command line interfaces)

Question 3

Desktop User Interfaces consist of … (3 things)

Answer 3

Direct Manipulation
\+
WIMP Paradigm
\+
Desktop metaphors

Question 4

Direct Manipulation Paradigm (3 main principles)

Answer 4

1. Continuous representations of the objects and actions of interest with meaningful visual metaphors
2. Physical actions or pressing buttons, instead of complex syntax
3. Rapid, incremental, reversible actions whose effects on the objects of interest are visible immediately

Question 5

Direct Manipulation Benefits

Answer 5

Basic functionality easy to learn for novices
Experts can work fast to carry out a wide range of tasks
Users get immediate feedback whether their actions are furthering their goals (WYSIWYG)
Error messages are rarely needed

Question 6

Direct Manipulation Problems

Answer 6

May waste valuable screen space; difficult on small screens
May take longer for experts than typing a command
Not always applicable, as not all tasks be described by objects and not all actions can be done directly

Question 7

What does WIMP mean?

Answer 7

Windows, Icons, Menu, Pointer

Question 8

menu interface styles

Answer 8

flat-lists
expanding, e.g., cascading
drop-down
pop-up
contextual

Question 9

Pointing Devices - Main interaction tasks

Answer 9

Select
Position
Orient
Path
Gesture

Question 10

WIMP Paradigm - Additional important concepts

Answer 10

Drag and Drop

System-wide Clipboard

Question 11

WIMP Improvements

Answer 11

Improved window management support (task bar)
Deep UI integration for search interfaces
integration of time-continuous media (sound, video, animations)
mobile devices

Question 12

Web-Interfaces then vs now

Answer 12

Then: Websites as static pages with only few dynamic content

Now: Web interfaces are more dynamic, more like web applications