When Xerox introduced the first graphical interface for its Alto computer, there must have been many skeptics who seemed ridiculous about this decision. Indeed, before this, computers frightened unprepared users with their “bird” command-line language, there wasn’t even a word about any drug n drop or point and click, and all communication with the machine was carried out by entering commands from the keyboard.
But everything changed dramatically when the key players of the IT market of that time (it was in the 70s of the last century) became convinced that the graphical user interface is not only the convenience of work for technicians, but also a great way to attract to computer untrained user technologies. It became much easier to train them on this type of PC. So, the graphical interface has become the very invention, thanks to which the personal computer market began to take shape in the world. It is terrible to think what would happen if no one had thought of this now obvious solution for everyone.
So what is a graphical interface? This is such a way of human interaction with the machine, in which, instead of keyboard commands, control actions are performed using a special device (usually the mouse performs its role). The dialogue is based on the use of menus, control windows, as well as buttons, various panels and other elements.
In its strict meaning, “interface” is an intermediary, its task is to display all the features and operating elements of the OS in a graphic form that is understandable to people. For example, in Windows, the interface is as simple and easy to understand as possible, in principle, and everyone is able to understand its subtleties.
If we control the computer with the mouse, then actions such as:
- left click - single click with the left mouse button on an interface element ;
- right click - single click with the right mouse button on a button or element;
- double click - double click on the main (usually left) mouse button with a minimum time between two clicks;
- drag and drop - moving elements by placing the mouse pointer on them and clicking on the left button and then holding it all the time while this object is being dragged.
What elements is the Windows GUI divided into?
First of all, this is the desktop. After the OS boots up, we see the Desktop, all the icons and shortcuts of the programs are on it. All windows open on top of it.
The badges. Any file, program or document in Windows is indicated by an icon. The program is executed by double-clicking on the icon. Moreover, the launched program can be located on the desktop, or it can be hidden very deeply, then it is launched using a shortcut that is prudently displayed on the desktop.
A shortcut is an icon that, although the program itself is not, but knows where it is stored and is able to point to this place. Icons, unlike shortcuts, do not have an arrow in the lower left corner. By double-clicking on the shortcut we launch the program as easy as if we clicked on its icon.
The taskbar is a long strip located, as a rule, in the lower (found in the upper, left or right, to the taste of the user) part of the screen. On it you can find the "Start" button, clocks and graphic elements that display those programs that are currently running on the computer.
And the most important element by which the graphical interface of Windows is recognized is the window, because all programs must run in windows.
Despite the ongoing debate about who Microsoft borrowed this or that design element or the whole idea of its version of the interface, which was called "Windows", nevertheless, this OS has become the most popular in the world. Let all the basic interface solutions that are implemented in it were formulated back in 1970 by Xerox engineers. But after all, the Japanese never released their personal computer into the big world, limiting themselves to a few thousand pieces for their own use, while others, including Apple and Microsoft, began to develop this new market segment.