1What is a User Interface?
An interface is what you see on your monitor: the collection of words, pictures, buttons, and menus that allows you to interact with the computer. It is the visible service provided by the operating system. An interface is the place where interaction takes place between the user and the computer program.
2What are the main types of User Interfaces for an OS?
Command Line Interface (CLI), Menu Driven Interface (MDI), Graphical User Interface (GUI)
3What is a Command Line Interface (CLI)?
The simplest user-interactive interface where the OS provides a prompt for typing textual commands interpreted by a command interpreter. Examples: MS-DOS, PowerShell, UNIX, LINUX.
4What are the advantages of a Command Line Interface (CLI)?
Relatively simple commands can be connected to achieve flexible results and it does not require a high-end computer system.
5What are the disadvantages of a Command Line Interface (CLI)?
User needs to know specific commands to use the interface and it does not cater for non-IT literate users.
6What is a Menu Driven Interface (MDI)?
An interface that presents a menu of alternatives on the screen, where the user selects an option using a mouse or other input methods. Examples: IBM AS-400, ATM Interfaces.
7What are the advantages of a Menu Driven Interface (MDI)?
Not dependent on knowledge of commands.
8What are the disadvantages of a Menu Driven Interface (MDI)?
Menus restrict choices and layouts may confuse users.
9What is a Graphical User Interface (GUI)?
A mouse-driven, icon-based, and user-friendly interface consisting of one or more screens with windows. Examples: Windows 11, macOS X.
10What are the advantages of a Graphical User Interface (GUI)?
Easier to use, does not require knowledge of commands, interaction via mouse or keyboard.
11What are the disadvantages of a Graphical User Interface (GUI)?
Much harder to implement compared to CLI, needs powerful video graphics capability, and heavy memory utilisation to run many programs.