What is a GUI?

1. Introduction

First invented by Xerox (Xerox).

If Windows is in the "Wintel standard" way, because you can use the mouse to click on the button to operate, very intuitive. DOS does not have a GUI, so he can only enter commands. This interface of DOS is called the cui (command line User Interface) command-line mode of the human-computer interface.

GUI is the abbreviation of graphical user Interface, that is, graphical user interface, usually human-computer interactive graphical user interface design often read "Goo-ee" the GUI is the visual experience and interactive operation part of the screen product.

GUI is a kind of human-computer system engineering, which combines computer science, aesthetics, psychology, behavior, and the requirement analysis of various business fields, and emphasizes the design of human-machine-environment as a whole.

This customer-oriented system engineering design aims to optimize the performance of the product, make the operation more humane, reduce the user's cognitive burden, make it more suitable for the users ' operation needs, directly enhance the product's market competitiveness.

GUI is the graphical user interface design of human-computer interaction. Taking a look at the development status of the graphic user interface design in the international related industries, many well-known international companies have long been aware of the GUI in the production of the powerful value-added functions, as well as the enormous market value driven, so within the company set up a relevant department specializing in GUI research and design, the industry has also set up a number of institutions, To communicate with each other GUI design theory and experience for the purpose. With the rapid development of China's IT industry, mobile communication industry and home appliance industry, the development of human-computer interface design has lagged behind, which has undoubtedly played a restrictive role in improving the comprehensive quality of the industry and improving the competitive ability of the international equivalent industry.

2. Features

The wide application of GUI is one of the most important achievements in the development of computer nowadays, it greatly facilitates the use of the unprofessional users. People no longer need to memorize a large number of commands, and replaced by Windows, menus, buttons and other means to facilitate the operation. The embedded GUI has the following basic requirements: light, low occupancy resources, high performance, high reliability, easy to transplant, configurable and so on.

3. Components

Desktop

At the start of the display, is also the bottom of the interface, and sometimes refers to include Windows, file browser, including the "desktop environment." Multiple tasks can be achieved on the desktop because they can overlap the display window. In general, the desktop has a variety of applications and data icons that allow users to start working. The desktop is incompatible with the existing folder, so you want to define the content in a special location in the form of a folder. For example, in Microsoft's Windows XP system, the desktop content of various users is actually stored in the system disk (default is C disk): Documents and settings[user name] Desktop folder.

Wallpaper, which is the desktop background. Can be set for a variety of pictures and various accessories, become a visual beauty of one of the important factors.

Window

The basic unit that the application sets in the graphical user interface for use with data. Applications and data are integrated within Windows. In a window, users can manipulate applications in a window to manage, generate, and edit data. There are usually menus, icons, and data in the center around the window.

In the window, according to a variety of data/application content with a title bar, generally placed at the top of the window, and in which there is maximized, minimized (hidden window, not eliminate data), the front, indent (only show the title bar) and other action buttons, you can simply operate the window.

Single File interface

In a window, the way in which a data is completed within a window. In this case, the number of data and display Windows is the same. To use data in another application's window, a new window is generated accordingly. So the number of Windows, management complex.

Multi-file interface

The way to manage multiple data within a single window. In this case, the window management is simplified, but the operation becomes dual management.

Label

A interface used in the data management of a multi-file interface, where the caption of the data is displayed side by side in the window, and the necessary data is shown by selecting the label title, which makes access to the data more convenient.

In the above, the multi-file interface is mainly used by the Microsoft Windows System. In other environments, it is often a single file interface, so there is no single/multiple file interface to address the problem.

Menu

An interface that displays the commands that the system can perform in a hierarchical manner. Generally placed at the top or bottom of the screen, almost all of the commands the application can use are placed. The importance level is generally from left to right, the more to the right importance of lower. The ordained hierarchy varies according to the application, the general attention to the operation of the file, editing functions, so put on the left, and then to the right there are various settings and other operations, the right is often equipped with help. Generally use the first button of the mouse to operate.

Instant menu (also called function table)

Unlike the layered menus that are ready for the application, the menu called "pop-up menu" is referred to in the second button of the mouse, outside the menu bar. Depending on the location, the menu content changes immediately, listing the actions that the indicated object can perform.

Icon

Displays data in the application that manages the data, or displays the application itself.

Data management program, that is, in the folder of user data management, the implementation of specific data management program, the data is displayed through the icon. Typically, the content of the data or the pattern of the application associated with the data is displayed. In addition, click on the data icon, generally can be completed between the start of the relevant application and then display the data itself these two steps of work.

The application's icon can only be used to start the application.

Button

menu, the highly utilized commands are graphically represented, configured in the application, and become buttons.

A button in an application that can usually be used in place of a menu. Some of the high degree of command, do not have to go through the menu layer flip to pull out, greatly improve the work efficiency. However, the command frequencies used by various users are different, so this configuration is generally customizable for user-defined editing.

4. Implementation methods

According to the output interface of the specific graphics device, the related function function is developed.

Purchase a graphics intermediate package for a specific embedded system.

The embedded GUI system is opened by the source code.

Use embedded GUI products provided by independent software developers.

5. Guidelines

Reduce the user's cognitive burden

Maintain consistency of the interface

Meet the creative needs of different target users

User interface Friendliness

icon to recognize the balance of

Consistency of icon functionality

Create interactive communication between interface and user

A more humane vision optimization

More recognizable icons and other elements

More maneuverability and extensibility for ease of use

Visual recognition with corporate brand characteristics

6. Application areas

Mobile Mobile Communication Products

Computer operating Platform

Software products

PDA Products

Digital Products

Car System Products

Intelligent Home Appliance Products

Game Products

Online promotion of products

7. Competition

The GUI tournament (the GUI championships) is an international interface competition that is held every two years, with invited interface designers from all over the world to participate in several different kinds of Windows GUI interface competitions, and you will have the opportunity to win the big prizes set up by the competition and the admiration of the peers. The "Graphical user Interface Grand Prix" is an international desktop beautification competition, formerly known as the "Graphical user Interface Olympiad", jointly sponsored by Neowin, Lockergnome, Deviantart, BetaNews, and wincustomize five it communities, Belong to the Microsoft Certified Gold Cooperation program. The world's computer desktop graphic arts talent come together to show us their highest creative achievements. The contest was suspended for one year in 2005 due to sponsorship funding, and the 06 competition was slightly deserted. The competition has a total of 26 countries around the world to participate in 9 projects, for a total of 12,000 dollars of bonuses (including X-box 360, Nvidia graphics, including the kind of prizes). The game focuses on the desktop background (wallpaper), desktop icons (icon), desktop theme (Visual Style) Three aspects, while the type of events are divided into "most practical" (Most Usable), "most original" (Most Original), "the Best integrated "(best overall).

2008GUI Tournament Awards in China

In this competition, our designers have obtained 1 Gold 3 silver 3 copper good results.

China's designer Iconboy's works non-mainstream2008 won the comprehensive Best Desktop Icon Award second prize (top overall icon Package winners 2nd place).

The most practical Desktop Icon Award Second Prize (Most Usable icon Package winners 2nd place).

8. Classification

UNIX architecture

Xerox OS (first generation GUI not exposed)

Mac OS (second generation GUI, part of the function plagiarism Xerox OS, code completely rewritten.) Add many features)

Windows NT (third-generation GUI, completely plagiarized from Mac OS, is being curbed by antitrust cases.) has now been liberated. )

Linux (open source software, extended many versions (GNOME/UBUNTU/YLMF OS) third-generation medium-term GUI

ARM architecture

Windows CE

Windows Mobile/phone

Sysbian S Series

Android

A-architecture

Iosiphone OS

OS X Phone Edition (mountain Lion)

OS X America Cat (ME Mobile Edition)

OMS (the former iOS)

9. Development Next OS

In 1987, Steve Jobs, which was thrown out by Apple, founded Nexttechnology. Invented the next OS (NeXTSTEP), which dominates the first in terms of user-friendliness before 1997. It's even more powerful than Windows XP, which was released 14 years later. After Mr. Jobs's return in 1997, Apple Inc. bought next Software. (next more than once) lay a solid foundation for Mac OS 7.

Mac OS 6

In early 1996, Apple announced the launch of its high 3D GUI interface, in 1999, to launch a new operating system for MAC OS X 10.01 BETA. The default 32x32, 48x48 is replaced by a larger 128x128 smooth semitransparent icon. The GUI, once introduced, immediately attracted a lot of criticism, it seems that users are not accustomed to such a big change, but it was not long before everyone accepted the new style, now this style has become a MAC OS sign.

Windows XP

In 2001, Microsoft launched the Windows XP Luna 2D UI and X86-64 Wintel, which still has 300 million customers, and every time Microsoft launches an important operating system version, its GUI is bound to change dramatically, and Windows XP is no exception. This GUI supports skin, the user can change the appearance and style of the whole GUI, the default icon is 48x48, support millions of colors.

KDE 3

Since KDE 1.0, K Desktop enviornment improved very quickly and very rapidly. Its GUI improves all graphics and icons and unifies the user experience.

Windows Vista 2006

At the end of the year, Microsoft made the biggest kernel change of the decade, and the changed kernel is called Windows Longhorn 6900 x64-86 atiwin Wintel. The GUI starts with the 3D desktop. This is Microsoft's challenge to its rivals, Vista also contains a lot of graphics and animation, since Windows 98 with Vista, Microsoft has been trying to improve the desktop, in Vista, they use a similar decoration mechanism to replace the Active Desktop. But Linux's 3D desktop can be more exaggerated.

Leopard

This is the 6th generation Mac OS desktop system, as well as the introduction of a better 3D element. The GUI also has a lot of animations.

KDE 4

The GUI for KDE 4 offers a number of new changes, such as animated, smooth, and efficient form management, which can be easily tuned and almost any design element can be easily configured. The previous version of the GUI is definitely a huge improvement.