Computer User Interfaces

SYLLABUS REF: SECTION 1, SPECIFIC OBJ. 8

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Computer User Interfaces
Computer
Fundamentals

Hardware Software
Interfaces Interfaces

Input Devices Command line

Output
Menu Driven
Devices

Virtual Graphical User

Assistants Interface

Sensors

Device
Interfaces

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User Interfaces

The user interface also known as the human-

computer interface

The means whereby the user interacts with

the computer system using hardware and
software.

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Hardware Interfaces

The hardware interface allows the user and other

computerized devices, the ability to interact with the
computer system, using hardware or physical devices.

There are several types of Hardware Interfaces.

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 • Input Devices: these devices allow the user
to directly interact with the computer
system and provide data to be processed by
the computer. Examples are keyboards,
mice, trackpads, joysticks, etc.
Types of • Output Devices: these devices present the
processed information to the user and
Hardware examples are, monitors, printers, speakers,
etc.
Interfaces
• Note that Touchscreens are both input and
output devices and they allow dual
interaction with the computer system.

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Input Devices and Touch screen
Hardware Interfaces

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 More Hardware
Interfaces
• Virtual Assistants: the Virtual
Assistant devices are a
combination of hardware and
software that allows the user to
interact with the computerized
devices using voice commands or
gestures.
• Examples are the Amazon Echo
device with the Amazon Alexa
software and the Google Home
device with the Google Assistant
software.

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 More Hardware
Interfaces
• Sensors are devices which allow
direct interaction with a
computerized system without any
user intervention, as the sensors
act as triggers to execute events
on the computerized device.
• For example, a PIR (Passive Infra
Red) sensor can detect the
movement of persons in a room.

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More Hardware Interfaces
• Device Interfaces allow the connection between
hardware components and the communication
between the devices.
• Examples are the PCI Express, SATA and IDE
interfaces which provide a connection between the
computer components and the mainboard of the
computer.

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 • Touch Screens
• Features
Merits of • User interacts through touching elements
displayed on the screen.
• Various touch gestures are supported such as
various touch, swipes and pinch.
• Used in some computers, all smartphones, ATM
Hardware machines, self service kiosks, etc.
• Benefits
Interfaces • Easy to use even for novice users.
• Commands can be executed quickly.
• Enjoyable for users.

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 • Speech and Sound Interfaces or Virtual
Assistants
• Features
Merits of • User interacts with the system by using voice
commands.
various • Certain commands must be used.
• Examples are Amazon Echo with Alexa and
Hardware Google Home with Google Assistant.
• Benefits
Interfaces • Easy to use even for novice users.
• Commands can be executed quickly.
• Enjoyable for users.
• Can aid visually or mobility impaired individuals.

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 • Specialized Keyboards
• Features
Merits of • Keyboards are fitted with specialized keys such
as braille raised dots, color coding or icons.
various • An example is the Concept Keyboard.
• Benefits
Hardware • Easy to use even for novice users.
•
Interfaces •
Commands can be executed quickly.
Can aid visually impaired individuals.
• Allows the computer to be readily used by
individuals with disabilities.

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Concept Keyboard

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Software Interfaces

The Software Interface consists of programs and

software design elements which allows the user to
interact with the computer system.

There are three main types of software interfaces:

Command line or Command driven interfaces, Menu
driven interfaces and Graphical User Interfaces.

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 • The user interacts with the computer
system using issued commands.
• The user must know all the commands
before he can use the system to perform
tasks
• The MS-DOS operating system (Microsoft
Command Disk Operating System) was the precursor to
Windows and the user needed to know a
line library of commands, before they could
effectively use the system.
Interface • The current Command Prompt software in
Windows computers is another example of
this type of interface.
• e.g. suppose Frank wants to open a letter
from his C drive, he may issue the command
as follows: start C:\letter.doc

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 • Command line interfaces can run many
times faster than all the other types of
software interfaces such a Menu driven and
Graphical User Interfaces, mainly because
More on only text based commands are issued and
displayed on the screen.
Command • Command line interfaces can be effectively
line used by experienced personnel, since they
will know the commands to do various tasks
Interfaces on the computer system. If the exact
commands are not known, the user cannot
interact with the system. This can add an
extra layer of security to various critical
computer systems.

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 • Command Line Interfaces (CLI)
• Features
• Command line interfaces are text-based, which means they do not rely
on graphics or other resources that can slow down the computer.
• They allow for precise and complex instructions to be executed in a fast
and efficient way.

Merits of •

•
They are highly customizable, allowing users to modify and create their
own scripts and commands.
They provide access to a wide range of system tools and functions that

various •
may not be available through other user interfaces.
Benefits

Software • Speed: CLI commands can be executed faster than with a graphical user
interface (GUI), since they do not require navigating through menus and
options.

Interfaces •

•
Flexibility: CLI allows for more control over the operating system and
applications, and can be used to automate tasks and workflows.
Resource efficiency: CLI does not require a lot of system resources,
making it ideal for use on older or less powerful hardware.
• Remote access: CLI can be used to remotely access and control a
computer or server, which can be useful for system administration tasks.
• Learning: Using CLI can help users gain a deeper understanding of the
operating system and how it works, since it requires knowledge of the
commands and syntax used.

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Command line Interfaces

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Menu driven Interfaces
• In a Menu driven interface, the user issues commands
through the selection of visual menu commands
using input devices.
• This type of user interface is easier to use than
Command line interfaces, since the user does not
have to memorize a library of commands, in order to
perform tasks on the computer system.
• There are Pull-Down menus and Pop-Up menus. The
Pull-Down menu displays a drop-down listing of visual
commands and the Pop-Up menu displays the
commands in a Pop-Up window of the computer.

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 • Menu Driven Interfaces
• Features
• Menu-driven interfaces are graphical, which makes them user-friendly
and easy to learn.
• They are typically organized in a hierarchical structure, which helps users
navigate through options and submenus.

Merits of •

•
They provide users with a visual representation of available options,
making it easy to select the desired action.
They often include shortcut keys to common functions, which can save

various •
time and effort.
Benefits

Software •

•
Accessibility: Menu-driven interfaces are accessible to users who are not
familiar with command-line interfaces, making them more widely usable.
Consistency: Menu-driven interfaces offer a consistent user experience

Interfaces •
across different applications and operating systems.
Error prevention: Menu-driven interfaces prevent errors by limiting user
choices to predetermined options, reducing the risk of user error.
• Time-saving: Menu-driven interfaces can save time by reducing the
amount of time it takes to learn and execute commands.
• Reduced complexity: Menu-driven interfaces are generally easier to use
and require less technical knowledge than command-line interfaces,
making them ideal for casual users or those with limited computer
experience.

Keith Laban ICT Educator [email protected]

Menu driven Interfaces

Keith Laban ICT Educator [email protected]

Graphical User Interfaces (GUI)

• A GUI consists of visual icon-based elements with

which the user can interact in order to issue
commands to the computer.
• A GUI may consist of WIMP i.e. Windows, Icons,
Menus and Pointers.
• This type of user interface can be effectively used by
novice users as commands can be issued by simply
selecting various picture type icons on the screen.

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WIMP
• Windows: A window is part of a screen that contains its own
interface elements e.g. using Windows 11 or the Mac OS operating
systems, the user can open several separate programs each in its own
rectangular-boxed area or Window.
• Icons: A small picture of an object displayed on the screen. The user
need only associate the icon with its function. Commands can be
issued through the selection of the icons.

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Menus and Pointers
• Menus: Commands are issued through the selection
of menus.
• Pull down menus: The menu item is selected using
the mouse and this expands the menu into
additional selections.
• Pop up menus: These menus may pop up on any
part of the screen.
• Pointers: A pointer is used to select areas of the GUI.

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 • Graphical User Interfaces
• Features
• GUIs use visual representations of software components such as windows, icons,
buttons, and menus to help users interact with software.
• They are designed to be easy to use, with intuitive interfaces that allow users to quickly
learn and navigate software applications.

Merits of •

•
They typically include drag-and-drop functionality and visual feedback to help users
interact with software.
They can support a wide range of input devices such as keyboards, mice, touchscreens,

various
and styluses.
• They can include multimedia elements such as images, videos, and animations to
enhance the user experience.

Software • Benefits
• User-friendly: GUIs are designed to be easy to use, with intuitive interfaces that allow
users to quickly learn and navigate software applications.

Interfaces •

•
Versatile: GUIs can support a wide range of input devices such as keyboards, mice,
touchscreens, and styluses, making them accessible to a wide range of users.
Efficient: GUIs can be designed to improve productivity, with features such as drag-and-
drop functionality, keyboard shortcuts, and visual feedback that help users work more
efficiently.
• Consistency: GUIs offer a consistent user experience across different applications and
operating systems, making it easy for users to switch between software applications.
• Multimedia support: GUIs can include multimedia elements such as images, videos, and
animations to enhance the user experience and make software more engaging.

Keith Laban ICT Educator [email protected]

WIMP interface

Keith Laban ICT Educator [email protected]