Graphical User Interface

(GUI)
 What is GUI Interface?
• The GUI term stands for Graphical User Interface. It is the interface where
images are used to represent different choices. The choices are designed as
per requirement of the end user applications.
• Operating systems which support GUI interface include Windows, Linux,
iOS, MacOS, Android etc.
• The programming languages which can be used in GUI based applications
are VC++, C++, C#, PHP, Java script, Ruby, Objective-C, Python, Perl, .Net,
HTML, Labview, MATLAB GUI etc.
• GUI language usually include elements such as windows, menus, icons,
numeric/boolean controls & indicators, tabs, selection, graphs etc.
 History
• A GUI is an interface through which a user interacts with electronic devices such as
computers and smartphones through the use of icons, menus and other visual
indicators or representations (graphics). GUIs graphically display information and
related user controls, unlike text-based interfaces, where data and commands are
strictly in text. GUI representations are manipulated by a pointing device such as a
mouse, trackball, stylus, or by a finger on a touch screen.
• The first human/computer text interface worked through keyboard input, with what
is called a prompt (or DOS prompt). Commands were typed on a keyboard at the
DOS prompt to initiate responses from a computer. The use of these commands and
the need for exact spelling created a cumbersome and inefficient interface.
• Arguably, the introduction and popularization of GUIs is one of the most important
factors that made computer and digital technologies more accessible to average,
less tech-savvy users. GUIs are, in fact, created to be intuitive enough to be operated
even by relatively unskilled personnel who have no knowledge of any programming
language. Rather than being fundamentally machine-centered, they are now the
standard in software application programming because their design is always user-
centered.
 History…
• In the late 1970s, the Xerox Palo Alto research laboratory created GUIs, which are now
common in Windows, Mac OS and many software applications. By using specially
designed and labelled images, pictures, shapes and colour combinations, objects were
depicted on the computer screen that either resembled the operation to be performed,
or were intuitively recognized by the user.
• In 1983, Apple introduced the first commercial use of a GUI in the Lisa computer,
followed shortly thereafter by the much more famous Apple Macintosh in 1984. Then, in
1985, Microsoft released Windows 1.0. The introduction of these systems revolutionized
the use of personal computers, paving their way to reaching the general public. Before
these, the use of command-line UIs restricted their use to advanced business users,
scientists and information technology experts.
 Current Situation
• Today, each OS has its own GUI (such as Ubuntu for Linux). Software applications use
these and add additional GUIs of their own, for example Microsoft Word and Excel, or
Adobe Photoshop. All internet browsers, such as Chrome, Internet Explorer and Firefox
use their own GUIs to allow the user to navigate through websites which may also have
their own GUIs (such as Facebook, Instagram or WordPress sites). If a user opens, for
example, a video from a streaming video player inside a website, they will interact with
four different GUIs in total:
1. The OS’s 2. The browser’s 3. The website’s 4. The video player’s
• Information is presented to the user via visual widgets that can be manipulated without
the need for command codes. The user interacts with these elements of the interface
(such as buttons, icons and menus), that respond in accordance with the programmed
script, supporting each user’s action. The same application software or OS may present
different or slightly different GUIs as it is patched and evolves. Even if the core of the
application and its functions stay the same, the appearance might be modified according
to user needs or to improve user experience — such as the case of the various Windows
versions throughout the years. Many GUIs use standard formats for representing text
and graphical elements (such as fonts or scroll bars), so it is possible to share data
between programs sharing the same GUI software.
 Current…
• How users interface with a computer is constantly being revised and reinvented.
Human ingenuity has brought users from the keyboard to the mouse and
trackball, touch screens and voice commands. A visual language has evolved as
GUI has become commonplace in both operating systems (OSs) and software
applications. Even those with limited computer skills can now, through the use of
GUIs, learn how to use computer applications for word processing, finances,
inventory, design, artwork or hobbies.
Difference Between Character User Interface
and Graphical User Interface
• Character user interface, also known as command-line user interface or
non graphical user interface, refers to the use of text commands, managed
by a command-line interpreter, in order to communicate with a computer
program. Typically software developers and system administrators rely on
command-line interfaces to configure machines, manage computer files,
and access program features that are otherwise unavailable on a graphical
user interface.
• Character user interfaces support automation and scripting and tend to
provide greater granular control and a higher level of functionality than
graphical user interfaces. While the character user interface was the
primary method of operating computers through the 1980s, most modern
electronic devices are equipped with intuitive graphical user interfaces and
the average user will rarely if ever have cause to access a computer
terminal.
Difference Between Web User Interface and
Graphical User Interface
• A web user interface, or web-based graphical user interface, refers to
the interaction between a user and software running on a web server
wherein the user interface is the web browser and the web page it
downloaded and rendered. Technologies such as Flash, Java,
JavaScript, and Silverlight enable interactions such as drag-and-drop,
playing audio, drawing on the screen, and access to the keyboard and
mouse.
• Web graphical user interfaces are platform independent, require no
installation or separate software development, easy to update and
monitor due to the nature of not being dependent upon the user to
deploy updates, provides a vibrant UI experience, and are low cost,
requiring only Ethernet or WiFi interface connectivity.
 What are the elements of a GUI?
Different elements and objects make a GUI as user-friendly as possible.
• Button - A graphical representation of a button that performs an action in a program when
pressed
• Dialog box - A type of window that displays additional information, and asks a user for input.
• Icon - Small graphical representation of a program, feature, or file.
• Menu - List of commands or choices offered to the user through the menu bar.
• Menu bar - Thin, horizontal bar containing the labels of menus.
• Ribbon - Replacement for the file menu and toolbar that groups programs activities
together.
• Tab - Clickable area at the top of a window that shows another page or area.
• Toolbar - Row of buttons, often near the top of an application window, that controls
software functions.
• Window - Rectangular section of the computer's display that shows the program currently
being used.
 How does a GUI work?
• A GUI uses windows, icons, and menus to carry out commands, such
as opening, deleting, and moving files. Although a GUI operating
system is primarily navigated using a mouse, a keyboard can also be
used via keyboard shortcuts or the arrow keys.
• As an example, if you wanted to open a program on a GUI system, you
would move the mouse pointer to the program's icon and double-
click it. With a command line interface, you'd need to know the
commands to navigate to the directory containing the program, list
the files, and then run the file.
 Benefits or advantages of GUI Interface
• It requires just a click on the simple picture or image in order to use its
functionalities.
• It is very easy to use by novice as it is user friendly.
• Simple icon in GUI interface uses multiple instructions in the back end. Hence it is
easy for the programmer to code in GUI languages (such as VC++, VB, C#, .Net,
Labview etc.) compare to other non GUI based programming languages.
• Programmer or user need not have to understand working of the computer
system.
• It looks very attractive and multi-coloured.
• It is much better than command driven interface which has many drawbacks.
• User can switch quickly between tasks on the GUI interface.
• Full screen interaction is also possible with quick and wholesome access to
anywhere on the screen
 Drawbacks or disadvantages of GUI Interface
• It uses more computer memory as the aim is to make it for user
friendly and not resource optimized. As a result it can be slow on
older machines.
• GUI becomes more complex if user needs to communicate with the
computer directly.
• Certain tasks may take long due to many menus to select the desired
choice.
• Hidden commands need to be searched using Help file.
• GUI based applications require more RAM in order to run.
• It uses more processing power compared to other interface types.