University of
Portsmouth
Brief history…
• Batch processing • Card punch/reader
• Command line • Teletype, VDU
• Menu and form fill • Terminal/ graphical screen
• Keyboard and Pointing
• Graphic User Interface device
• Virtual Reality • Headset, dataglove etc
• Ubiquitous computing • Embedded systems
• Agents • Animation, natural language
processing
Dr. J. Crellin : : Interaction

University of
Portsmouth
Why are GUIs ‘good’?
• A familiar user metaphor
• Users apply knowledge from the ‘real world’
• The ‘visual cache’
• More ‘direct’ manipulation
Dr. J. Crellin : : Interaction

Graphical Environment University of
Portsmouth
Manager
• Digital Research’s attempt at a GUI for 8086
machines
• Similar in concept to MacOS
• …eventually crippled after litigation by Apple
Dr. J. Crellin : : Interaction

University of
Portsmouth
Windows XP “luna”
MacOSX “aqua”
Dr. J. Crellin : : Interaction

University of
Portsmouth
Freedom of choice…?
• Logical level
– The form of interaction required, e.g text entry, pointing
and selecting, other?
• Physical level
– Choice of devices to implement the interaction
Dr. J. Crellin : : Interaction

University of
Portsmouth
Text entry
• Qwerty keyboard (and other layouts)
• Chord keyboard
• Stylus text entry
• Handwriting recognition
• Non-European text entry
• Voice recognition
Dr. J. Crellin : : Interaction

University of
Portsmouth
Pointing devices
• Mouse
• Stylus
• Finger/ touch screen
• Trackball
• Joystick
• Voice command
• Cursor keys
Dr. J. Crellin : : Interaction

University of
Portsmouth
Output devices
• CRT
• LCD
• Speech
• Sound
• Text to speech
• Text to texture (braile)
Dr. J. Crellin : : Interaction

University of
Portsmouth
Conflicting requirements…
• Mobile phone:
– portable,
– light
– small size
– low power consumption
– easy to enter text
– easy to read screen
– bright enough to read at night or in bright sunlight
– allow user to access many functions
Dr. J. Crellin : : Interaction