Programming - Graphical User Interface Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Programming - Graphical User Interface - Essay Example The Graphical User Interface (GUI) is the most popular implementation of a Direct Manipulation Interfaces (DMIs) which presents users with a model of their information space and users can manipulate their information by direct action. Since GUI makes use of â€Å"visual objects to implement its model therefore the user can manipulate these objects via a mouse or another pointing device. The User Interface Management Systems (UIMS) are implemented mainly as GUIs so that the interface governs the entire system and not just a single application† (Daniel, Maurice & Thomas, para. 10). The â€Å"Graphical User Interface (GUI)† term came into existence because the first interactive user interfaces to computers were not graphical; they were text-and-keyboard oriented alpha-numeric characters and usually comprised of commands. With earlier interactive user interfaces, the computer had dull appearance and had very brief responses. We had to remember the computer commands too. The typical example of user-computer interface is the user interface of DOS operating system which is still used to from Windows operating system. The GUI utilizes the graphical objects to replace and/or supplement alpha-numeric user interfaces. In this way, graphical user interface enhances the end-user's and/or application programmer's productivity. Well- designed graphical user interface can free the user from learning complex command languages. On the other hand, many users find that they work more effectively with a command-driven interface, especially if they already know the command language (Hoffmann, para.6-8).