interfaces Flashcards
What is a user interface?
The way a user executes commands to the computer and how a user and computer interact
Things a user interface can do?
- GUI
- allowing copying/ deleting/ sorting
- allows user to switch between tasks
- provides a CLI
What does HCI stand for?
Human computer interaction
What is HCI?
The communication between a person and a computer systems
Main styles of communication provided by an interface?
- text-based
- images to represent commands
What does WIMP stand for?
Windows
Icons
Menus
pointers
What is a graphical user interface?
Interacting with a computer system through graphical icons
Advantages of a GUI?
- easy to navigate
- no complicated commands
- uses WIMP
Disadvantages of a GUI?
- takes up most hard disk space- more than other interfaces
- requires a lot of memory
- slower than CLI
Devices which make use of GUI?
Mp3 players
Smartphones
What is a menu based interface?
Menu driven- using a series of menus to interact with the computer
Advantages of Menu based interfaces?
- Little processing power needed
- don’t have to learn a lot of commands
- easy to understand
Disadvantages of menu based interfaces (2)?
- user might get bored if having to go through a series of menus
- Navigating could be a long process
Devices which use a menu based interface?
Touch screens
Keyboards
Mice
What is a voice driven interface?
Voice recognition- using voice to input commands /data
Advantages of voice driven interface?
- can multi task
- keyboards take up more space
- faster to use- than keyboards
Disadvantages of voice driven interface?
- those with speech impediments- the computer may not understand
- some words sound the same
- background noises may interfere
Devices of which make use of voice driven interfaces?
- Siri (iPhone)
- Computer OS
What is a CLI?
executing commands via text input
Advantages of a CLI?
- quicker to type commands
- little memory and processing power needed
- experts say it’s fast
Disadvantages of a CLI?
- everything has to be written precisely
- instructions can’t be guessed
- confusing for those who don’t know how to use
Devices that use a CLI?
- Microsoft windows
- DOS shell
What is a touch sensitive interface?
Using touch to execute commands w/ stylus pen or finger
Advantages of a touch sensitive interface?
- good for hand to eye coordination
- no keyboard or mouse
- not hard to learn
