Information processing and user interfaces

User Interfaces

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What is an interface?

• What we use to interact

• With people

– Language

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What is an interface?

• What we use to interact

• With computers

– Mouse

– Screen

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Command Line interface

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• What do we see on the screen?

• In the early days, we saw this

Problems with command interfaces

• Users have to learn and remember a command language.

• So unsuitable for occasional users

• Users make errors in command. An error detection and recovery system is required

• System interaction is through a keyboard so typing ability is required

Graphical User Interface(GUI)

On the screen applications display a GUI such that the user can work with it

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Option buttons

Cancel/OK Command buttons

Checkbox

Dialog or Text box

Printer Selection

Graphical, explicative icons

Hardware interface

• What computers use to communicate

• With other computers

– Modem

– Router

– Hubs

– Switch

– Wires

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Interfaces of Web-Based Applications: hyperlinks

• Users move to different webpages by clicking on hyperlinks

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