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Classification of OS based on User Interface
A user interface allows the user to communicate with the computer. A user interface brings structure to the interaction between the user and the computer. The two main types of the user interface are:
Character User interface and Graphical User Interface.
1. Graphical User Interface (GUI)
A graphical user interface allows the user to enter commands by pointing and clicking at objects that appear on the screen. It takes advantage of the computer’s graphics capabilities to make the program easier to use. Well-designed graphical user interfaces 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. The main advantage of GUI is that they are easy to use, especially for a beginner. The main disadvantage is the amount of memory space they need. A graphical user interface like Windows needs a lot of RAM and hard disk spaces to run properly.
Features of GUI
- GUI interface is easy to operate and user-friendly.
- Users don’t have to understand the syntax.
- The job, which is to be performed, can be understood by icons present in the GUI mode.
- Other peripherals like mice, joystick, the light pen can be used.
- Image, games can be played in the easy way i.e. an amusing environment can be created.
- Users can explore more by themselves.
- Users don’t need to remember all the commands.
- GUI environment is full of multimedia operation and animation.
- It requires a larger memory space and faster processors to operate.
- It is capable of operating multitasking, multiprogramming, and multiuser systems.
- GUI-based OS is usually 32 bit or 64 bit OSs.
Graphical User Interfaces, such as MS Windows and the one used by the Apple Macintosh, feature the following basic components:
- Pointer: A symbol that appears on the display screen and that you move to select objects and commands. Usually, the pointer appears as a small angled arrow. Text processing applications, however, use a 1-beam pointer that is shaped like a capital l. The pointer is controlled by a pointing device such as a mouse, trackball, joysticks, touchpad, light pen, etc.
- Icons: Icons are the small pictures that represent commands, files, or windows. By moving the pointer to the icon and pressing a mouse button, you can execute a command or convert the icon into a window. You can also move the icons around the display screen as if they were real objects on your desk.
- Desktop: The area on the display screen where icons are grouped is often referred to as the desktop because the icons are intended to represent real objects on a real desktop.
- Windows: You can divide the screen into different areas. In each window, you can run a different program or display different information. You can move windows around the display screen, and change their shape and size at will.
- Menus: Most graphical user interfaces let you execute commands by selecting a choice from a menu.
- Folders: Graphical representation of a directory.
The first graphical user interface was designed by Xerox Corporation’s Palo Alto Research Center in the 1970s, but it was not until the 1980s and the emergence of the Apple Macintosh that the graphical user interface became popular. One reason for their slow acceptance was the fact that they require considerable CPU power and a high-quality monitor, which until recently were expensive.
2. Character User Interface (CUI)
In a character/ command-driven system to communicate with the computer, the user has to instruct the computer in special commands (words). DOS is a very commonly used command-driven user interface. The main advantage of this interface is that it can be quick to use as long as the user knows the correct commands. The main advantage of a command-driven user interface is that they are very difficult to use if the user is a beginner or doesn’t know the correct commands. Command-driven systems can be very unfriendly and confusing for non-computer experts to use. However, it can be used in other older systems with low processing capability and low memory.
Features of CUI
- CUI is less user-friendly than GUI.
- Commands are used to instruct the computer.
- The user needs to remember the commands for operating this system.
- It cannot display graphics, icons, pictures, multimedia, etc.
- Pointing devices like mouse, joystick, trackball, trackpad are not recognized.
- CUI-based OS is usually 8 or 16 bit OS.
- It is much faster than GUI-based systems.
- It is a single task and a single-user OS.
- It can be used in low memory and low processing speed computers.
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| Classification of OS based on User Interface |
