User interface
Also called: UI or graphical user interface(GUI)
The user interface (UI) is a graphically designed shell that allows users and devices to interact with each other. The purpose of a user interface is twofold: to allow the user to operate the device and to allow the system to present information to the user.
The "device" can be a physical device or machine, or it can be a computer program or control system, an app, or a Web site. In the latter cases, we also speak of a graphical user interface (GUI).
What makes a user-friendly interface?
The essence of user interface design is to design user-friendly user interfaces. User-friendly means that the interface enables the user to perform tasks or access information intuitively, ergonomically, attractively and efficiently.
Simplicity, clarity and consistency are important qualities of a user interface.
User interface development
The user interface of a computer has changed tremendously over the decades. Initially, input was given using punch cards. This system was replaced in the 1970s by entering commands through a command prompt.
With the advent of operating systems such as Windows and Mac OS X, the computer transformed into a virtual desktop environment with a major role for the mouse cursor, allowing the user to click icons and switch between different application windows.
With the rise of touchscreens in smartphones and tablets, we are becoming increasingly accustomed to giving commands by touching the screen. This new form of interaction, which often lacks a mouse cursor, creates new opportunities and challenges for the design of user interfaces.
