Information Technology
Grade 10
Topic: User Interface
Communication between a user and a computer is two-way. One of the jobs of the operating
system is to provide a 'user interface', so that a human can communicate with the hardware
that makes up a computer. When you buy a piece of software, it too will have a user
interface, so that you can access and use the software. A user will give data and instructions
to a computer and a computer will give information back to a user. The way that a computer
and a user communicate is known as the interface. There are alternative terms to describe
this. Another common term is the Human-Computer Interface, also known as the HCI.
The user interface (UI) is the point of human-computer interaction and communication in a
device. This can include display screens, keyboards, a mouse and the appearance of a
desktop. It is also the way through which a user interacts with an application or a website.
We can therefore say user interface refers to the way in which a user interacts with the
computer system.
A user interface, comprises both hardware and software components that handles the
interaction between the user and the system.
1. Hardware Interface
User may interact with the computer via different hardware. These hardware make it
possible for a person to communicate with the computer system. Hardware such as
keyboard and a monitor screen. Alternative devices such as touch screen may make a
computer system much easier to use.
A non-visual interface such as a voice based, or braille-based input output system is
designed to help people with restricted vision and other disabilities that make it
difficult to use a computer.
Activity 1
Explain each of the following and how they work, and give an example of a situation in
which they are used.
Touch Screen
Specialized Keyboard
Braille
2. Software Interface
The software interface controls how the user works with the computer. The most
common Software interface are:
Command Line Interface
Menu Driven Interface
Graphical User Interface
Activity 2
Using the Internet or otherwise make short notes on each of the interface above using
the table below.
Interface Description Features
Command Line Interface
Menu Driven Interface
Graphical User Interface
Define each of the following terms (in relation to Information Technology)
Icon
Pop Up Menu
Pull Down Menu.
Window