ICT, text book, pages 15-17

ICT revision

Factors affecting the choice and use of user interfaces:

User interfaces provide a communication link between a computer's operating system and the user.

Graphical:

• Users are often a custom to using GUI's such as Microsoft or Apple. GUI's allow users to operate a computer through the selection of graphical icons. Therefore they enable users to operate their devices effectively without needing programming knowledge and with limited computer skills. GUI's, therefore, require significantly more memory and power to operate than other UI methods. 

Summary - GUI's need to be simple and easy to use for users otherwise they are unlikely to choose that product.

• Apple describes GUI functions as 'WIMP computing'. WIMP has made computer usage accessible to many billions of people almost any age group by being intuitive, easy to use.

Command line:

• Command line = the starting point shown on a computer screen where programming code is types, informing the OS what to do next.
• The computer is operated via the inputting of text, specifically commands.

Menu based:

• Menu based UIs provide alternative methods to perform functions, through a menu and require less memory than GUI's. 
• They may provide additional options to those of a GUI but require user knowledge about which menu provides each function. 
• Users who are less familiar with UIs probably prefer GUIs due to it being easier.

Adapted:

• UI should be easy to adapt and customise. For example, Microsoft allow users to adapt colour, font size and positioning of GUIs on the desktop making it more appealing for users. This also appeals to users with special needs or disabilities, allowing them to increase the size of GUIs.

Factors affecting the choice of operating system:

Different OS suit different people and accommodate their needs. The majority if people will want to have access to a single-user multi-tasking operating system so that they can carry out more than one function at the same time. PC's will often have a multi-user OS which allows collaborative working accessed…