Computing Science
USER INTERFACE
PUPIL NOTES
NATIONAL 4 / 5
Computer Science: User Interface
National 4/5
In this unit your learning intentions are:
Nat 4
Target Audience
Nat 5
User requirements
Visual Layout
Navigation
Selection
Consistency
Interactivity
Readability
User Interface
When any product is in the design stage, a good design will place
upmost importance on the user interface. This applies to designers
of computer hardware, computer software, a kettle, toaster or a
child’s toy.
The user interface is simply the junction between the user
and the device or appliance, it is the way that we interact
with our hardware and is a 2-way process. It helps us to
navigate the features of our TV. For example, the
hardware user interface between you and your TV at home
is the remote control. This is how you communicate with
your TV to make selections, and you have probably noticed
that you prefer some interfaces to others. This is down to the
design of the user interface.
The remote works in
conjunction with a software
interface, known as the EPG
(Electronic Programme
Guide). This is what is shown
on your TV.
It normally consists of a
selection of menus from
which you select choices
using your remote.
Both of these together make up the user interface between you
and your TV.
User Interface
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St Andrew’s High School
Computer Science: User Interface
National 4/5
Task 1
Staying with your TV user interface for now, you are going to
answer some simple questions in your jotter in order to judge how
well your TV user interface is designed.
Write the type of remote and software interface (e.g. Sky, Virgin)
you are evaluating and answer the following questions:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Does it always respond quickly to your commands?
Does it always respond accurately to your commands?
How easy is it to navigate through the menus?
Are the buttons durable (hard to break)?
How comfortable is it to hold in your hand?
In your opinion, are the buttons/menus positioned logically?
Can you think of any change in design that would make your
remote better?
NB Yes/No answers are unacceptable. Back up opinions with
examples.
Now that you have completed Task 1, you should have a better
understanding of what an interface is and why it is very important.
When new software is being
developed it is of extreme
importance that the design team
get the consistency of the
interface right. If they don’t, the
user will simply choose another
piece of software and your
company loses money!
For instance, if you are designing software for a toddler, the key is
interactivity. A designer must keep this in mind when designing any
software aimed at a younger audience. Always bear in mind the
Target Audience.
User Interface
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St Andrew’s High School
Computer Science: User Interface
National 4/5
Task 2
In your jotter, draw up a list of 7 evaluation questions for a
children’s educational software package.
Clue: You must take into account the target
audience.
When designing an interface, it is important that the layout and
selection process of a software interface is similar throughout the
user experience i.e., you must try to make each screen have a
similar layout so that the user can get used to using the software
more quickly.
Types of User Interface
There are various types of user interface and each has its
advantages. We will go into more detail about them now.
Command Line Interface
A command line interface
allows the user to interact
directly with the computer
using specific predefined
commands. Every operating
system has a command line
interface. In Windows it is called DOS (Disk Operating System). It
is used to get to the ‘bones’ of the system and is generally used by
programmers. When you press the start button of a Windows
machine, it boots up using DOS. DOS then checks that everything is
okay with the system before transferring to the Windows graphical
operating system.
User Interface
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St Andrew’s High School
Computer Science: User Interface
National 4/5
Graphical User Interface (GUI)
A GUI uses what’s known as a WIMP interface. The acronym WIMP
stands for Windows Icons Menus Pointer and refers to the
interface that most of us are familiar with and use daily. A GUI is
described as user friendly which basically means that the user does
not need to memorise commands and can interact with the computer
by simply clicking icons and choosing options from predefined menus
hence the term WIMP was coined.
The creation of this
interface has been
revolutionary in computing as
it has made it possible for
even those with very limited
knowledge to be able to use a
computer effectively.
Without the creation of
GUIs, computing and ecommerce would not be
possible as we know it today.
Unlike a command line interface, A GUI can also be customised
(changed) to suit the user’s needs. For instance, if a user is short
sighted, they could make icons and font sizes larger. The content of
menus can also be changed along with the behaviour of the mouse.
In fact there are many customisations a user can make to a GUI
including changing which image greets them when they switch it on.
This can make the computer seem more like a companion than a
machine as it can be highly personalised.
A GUI also makes use of templates. A template is a ready made
document which can be changed to suit user needs. This saves time
as the document is already laid out and the user only has to add to
it. PowerPoint templates are a good example;
User Interface
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St Andrew’s High School
Computer Science: User Interface
National 4/5
The entire ‘look’ of this document could be changed with one click on
any of these pre-designed slides. Any information added by the user
will remain unchanged.
Wizards
Yes, wizards are male witches from the olden days. However, using a
GUI, a wizard is step by step guide to designing a document from
scratch. Again, we’ll use
PowerPoint as an
example but many
programs have wizards
to help the user; CD
burning programs,
database programs and
audio recording
programs are but a few
more examples.
Wizards ask questions
on each screen about the type of document we want to create, for
example, is it a presentation for a new product? Or do we want to
create a presentation about a school trip? Each of these documents
requires a different approach so the wizard will take this into
account when creating the final document. All the user has to do
now is personalise the document to suit their needs. Wizards are an
extremely handy and time saving tool.
User Interface
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St Andrew’s High School
Computer Science: User Interface
National 4/5
Wizards are also programs which help to install software on your
computer. Again, it is
a step by step
process usually with
‘next’ and ‘back’
buttons on each
screen. These screens
might ask where you
wish to install the
program on your
computer, which
features you want to
install and whether or
not you wish it to
start when your computer starts.
Task 3
Take the heading Graphical User Interface Task 3 and answer the
following questions in your jotter using these notes.
Remember: Answer in sentences.
1. What does the acronym ‘WIMP’ stand for?
2. What is meant by the term, ’User Friendly’?
3. Give two reasons why GUIs could be described as
revolutionary in computing?
4. State three ways of customising a GUI.
5. What is a template and why is it useful?
6. Name two uses of wizards in computing.
7. Name 3 types of programs which make use of wizards.
8. State one difference between a command line interface and a
GUI.
(4)
(3)
(2)
(3)
(2)
(2)
(3)
(1)
Total (20)
User Interface
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St Andrew’s High School
Computer Science: User Interface
National 4/5
Now we will examine more types of user interface.
Menu Driven Interface
When using a menu driven interface, the user interacts with the
computer by selecting options from a given menu, rather than having
to memorise the
exact command
needed to operate a
command line
interface.
When you start up
your windows
computer at home,
the first screen you
see will have an option
to press a key to go
to your computer’s
set up menu. This is known as the BIOS (Basic Input/Output
System) and is used to make sure all the chips, hard drives, ports
and CPU function together. This is an example of a menu driven
interface.
Touch Screen Interface
A touch screen interface is a computer display screen that is also
an input device. The screens are sensitive to pressure. The user
interacts with the computer by touching pictures or words on the
screen. Touch screen interfaces have become increasingly popular
and are used in many mobile devices such as ‘Smart’ phones and
tablets.
User Interface
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St Andrew’s High School
Computer Science: User Interface
National 4/5
Voice Activated Interface
Voice activated user interfaces are seen
as the user interface of the future. It is
expected that in the not so distant
future users will not only be able to
verbally communicate with their
computer but they will also be able to communicate verbally with
various devices in the home; televisions, microwaves and even
curtains! In fact, experts predict that anything that is fitted with a
processing microchip will be capable of being controlled by the voice
of the user.
User Interface
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St Andrew’s High School
Computer Science: User Interface
National 4/5
Task 4
Read the clues and use the Types of Interface notes above to
complete the crossword below.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
EclipseCrossword.com
Across
4.
5.
7.
8.
11.
12.
13.
Windows command line interface
Windows Icons Menu Pointer
Smart phones and ....... use TSIs
Just imagine the arguments at home when this will be voice controlled!
These types of interface are sensitive to pressure
Voice activated interfaces are seen as the......
Experts predict that anything fitted with a processing......... will be capable of voice
activation
Down
1.
2.
3.
6.
9.
10.
Basic Input/Output System
This interface lets a user get to the 'bones' of the system.
No need to memorise commands with this interface
A command line interface is generally used by these.
The creation of graphical user interfaces has been............. in computing.
A WIMP interface even allows users with very limited.........to use it effectively
User Interface
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St Andrew’s High School
Computer Science: User Interface
National 4/5
Online Help and Online Tutorial
There are obvious differences between these two but in
computing exams it is a notoriously misunderstood question.
Online Help
Imagine you are using Microsoft Word and you don’t know how
to insert a picture into your document. To help you with this,
you would use Online Help, it does not mean it is online (i.e.,
The Internet, It simply means that it can be accessed while
you are using the program. Most programs have online help to
help you with using particular features of the program.
This is Microsoft’s extremely annoying online
assistant. Thankfully, it can be switched off and if
you need help while using a program you simply use
the ‘Help’ menu.
Online Tutorial
An online tutorial is a
program which is used
when you're learning
the
basics
of
a
program. It is normally
found online, as in, on
the Internet. It leads
you step by step
through the basics and
assumes that you know
nothing about creating, editing or even saving a document. It is
usually delivered as a set of lessons and is often used by
beginners to enable them to get to grips with the software
from start to finish.
User Interface
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St Andrew’s High School
Computer Science: User Interface
National 4/5
Task 5
1.
In your own words please, explain what you understand by
a) Online Tutorial
b) Online Help
(1)
(1)
2.
Again, in your own words, explain the difference between
online help and online tutorial.
(2)
3.
Of the following users which would you advise them to use;
a) A novice (beginner).
(1)
b) A regular user looking for help on how to increase the
margins on a page.
(1)
Total (6)
User Interface
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