USER INTERFACES
NAME ……………………………………………
Copy the sentences below and complete the blanks using words from the
list.
You should use each word only once.
DIRECTORY
MINIMAL
OPERATING
POINTERS
MENU
MOUSE
INTERFACE
QUICKER
INSTRUCTIONS
COMMAND
SLOW
GRAPHICAL
OPTIONS
BEGINNERS
THREE
PROCESSING
MEMORY
INTERACT
An ________________is a way to interact with something. For example,
your television remote control is an interface to your television.
We needed a way to _____________with our computers and so a user
interface was developed to enable us to communicate with the
_______________System.
There are ____________ main types of user interface, each of which has
a specific use.
A _____________-Driven Interface presents the user with a blank screen.
The computer displays a prompt and the user types in a command which is
often abbreviated e.g DIR.W to get a list of all the files in a ____________.
The user presses enter and the Operating System carries out the
instruction. Once the user has learned all the commands, the system is
______________ to operate than the other two systems, but it can take a
long time to learn all the commands that you are likely to need. This type
of interface uses less _____________than the others. MS-DOS is an
example of a Command-Driven Interface.
With a ____________Driven Interface, the user completes their tasks by
choosing ____________ from a simple menu. Often, one menu
will expand to show a further menu which provides extra
options.
Part of the screen may provide _________________ for the
users to read, followed by a numbered list of options from which they can
choose. The user selects the option they want with a mouse or entering
the correct number.
Menu Driven Interfaces can be easy to use, no commands need to be
learned. They offer a step-by-step set of options until the task is
completed. Users can learn their way around with
_____________training. However, they can be ___________ to use,
sometimes it is necessary to go through many different menu screens until
you reach the option you need. The user needs to have an idea of where
to start looking, otherwise it can be frustrating for them as they try to
search for the menu option they need.
The most commonly used type of interface is a ____________User
Interface or GUI. The user chooses an option usually by pointing a
_______________ at an icon representing what they require, e.g. the
printer icon to print a document. GUIs are also known as a WIMP interface
– Windows, Icons, Menus and ____________
GUIs are much easier to use for _______________, they require very little
training and are fairly intuitive. They enable you to easily exchange
information between software using cut and paste or ‘drag and drop’.
Users do not have to learn complicated commands. However, GUIs do
need a lot more memory and ______________power than the other two
types of user interface. They can be irritating to experienced users when
simple tasks require a number of operations.