Characteristics of Graphical and Web User Interfaces

web interface design company mumbai The Web interface differs from a GUI interface



The graphical user interface differed significantly from its text-based forefather. The Web interface differs from a GUI interface in significant ways also. In this article and the following articles, the following characteristics of GUI and Web interfaces are reviewed:



Interaction styles.

The concept of direct manipulation.

The characteristics of graphical interfaces.

The characteristics of Web interfaces.

Web page versus Web application design.

The general principles of user interface design.



Interaction Styles



An interaction style is simply the method, or methods, by which the user and a computer system communicate with one another. Today the designer has a choice of several interaction styles in graphical system or Web page and application design. They are as follows:



Command line

Menu selection

Form fill-in

Direct manipulation

Anthropomorphic



The choice of interaction styles to be considered may be limited based upon the type of system being developed and the characteristics of the input and output devices tobe used for the interface. A brief description of each interaction style follows.



Command Line



The command-line interface is the oldest and original user interaction style. It requires the user to press a function key or type a command into a designated entry area on ascreen. The commands may be single characters, abbreviations, words, or multiplewords and codes. The command-line style is powerful, offering immediate access to system functions. It is also flexible and able to incorporate options or parameters to vary its behavior. One problem with command lines is that they must be rememberedand they test one’s power of recall. No clues about what commands are available existon the screen. Another problem is that command lines can be cryptic and obscure with complex syntax. They are also very prone to, and intolerant of, typing errors that can lead to user frustration.



Menu Selection



A menu is a set of options or choices from which a user must choose. On screens, the user selects a choice with a pointing device or keystroke. Typically, some kind of visual feedback is then provided to indicate the option selected. Menu selections can also beprovided by voice as exemplified by the "Press 1 to…" encountered after telephone calls to a business or organization. A newer version of telephone voice menus now appearing asks the caller to speak a request (or command), which, hopefully, the voice recognition system will understand. (Is this an auditory command line?) Screen menus are advantageous because they utilize a person’s much stronger powers of recognition, not recall. However, menu choice labels must be meaningful and understandable for the menu to be truly effective. Otherwise, speed of use will be degraded and errors increase. Menus can break a complex interaction into small steps, which structure and aid the decision-making process. This is especially helpful for infrequent users who are unfamiliar with the system. On the other hand, many small steps may slow the knowledgeable user.



Form Fill-in



The form fill-in style is very useful for collecting information. Today’s typical form structured screen contains a series of controls or fields into which the user either types information or selects an option, or options, from a listing of choices. (Technically, a listing of choices presented to users is also a menu.) In old text-based systems, however, screen forms were composed entirely of fields into which the user had to typeinformation. Screen fill-in forms are derived from their antecedents, paper forms. An advantage of a form is its familiarity. If it is designed well, a form will aid the user in understanding its purpose and allow fast and easy entry of information. Conversely, a poorly designed screen form can be inefficient and aggravating to complete.