graphical user interface
Let an agent explain graphical user interfaces and their elements, relay history, design principles and patterns from human-computer interaction sources, describe windowing systems and toolkits, and distinguish GUIs from command-line, voice and touch interfaces.
Research draft, second pass
A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.
written by Claude from model knowledge without web access - no source was read, every claim is a lead to verify
Researched by: Claude
Purpose and description
Let an agent explain graphical user interfaces and their elements, relay history, design principles and patterns from human-computer interaction sources, describe windowing systems and toolkits, and distinguish GUIs from command-line, voice and touch interfaces.
A form of user interface that lets people interact with computers and devices through visual elements such as windows, icons, menus, buttons and pointers rather than text commands, provided by windowing systems and desktop environments, with patterns such as single and multiple document interfaces and tabbed browsing, and implemented in applications from package managers such as Synaptic to editors such as GNU Emacs and version control tools; graphical user interfaces became dominant with the Macintosh and Windows and now extend to touch and mobile interfaces.
What it is for: Interacting with computers visually.
It can be explain elements and patterns; relay history and principles; describe windowing systems and toolkits; distinguish from other interfaces.
Distinguishing features
WIMP paradigm
Direct manipulation
Windowing systems
Design patterns
What it looks like
Windows, icons, menus and pointers on a screen.
Physical character
Xerox Alto: 1973 year - first GUI workstation
Macintosh: 1984 year - mass-market GUI
Windows 1.0: 1985 year
How it is recognised
Visual computer interface
Windowing systems, desktop environments, SDI and tabbed interfaces; applications such as Synaptic, Emacs GUI, TkRev
Command-line interfaces use text; touch interfaces extend GUIs; voice interfaces use speech
Related models
is a kind of - in registry terms
is provided by - and desktop environments
is contrasted with - using text
is designed by - principles
In practice
Families and kinds
desktop GUIs with windowing systems such as X11, Wayland, Windows and macOS
desktop environments and window managers
application patterns such as single document interface, multiple document interface and tabbed browsing
toolkits such as GTK, Qt and Tk
application GUIs such as Synaptic Package Manager, GNU Emacs GUI and TkRev
touch and mobile GUIs
Standards and regulation
Accessibility standards such as WCAG and platform accessibility guidelines
Platform human interface guidelines
ISO 9241 ergonomics of human-system interaction
Failure modes and hazards
Inaccessible interfaces
Inconsistent design
Dark patterns
Registry aliases naming specific applications
Also called
Where this came from
wikidata · CC0 1.0
Drafted structure
Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions.
Understand What a GUI is.
Definition.
Definition
Definition and elements.
Definition
Definition.
- What is a graphical user interface, and what are windows, icons, menus, pointers and widgets? definition
- Is the question about GUIs in general, a windowing system, a pattern or a specific application? boundary
Patterns
Patterns.
Patterns
Patterns.
- What are single and multiple document interfaces, tabbed browsing and other GUI patterns? definition
- Which entry fits the specific pattern? action
Build Systems and toolkits.
Practice.
Systems
Windowing systems.
Systems
Systems.
- How do windowing systems such as X11, Wayland and the Windows and macOS systems work? provenance
- Which references are standard? provenance
Toolkits
Toolkits and applications.
Toolkits
Toolkits.
- How do toolkits such as GTK, Qt and Tk build GUIs for applications such as Synaptic, Emacs and TkRev? provenance
- Which entry fits the specific toolkit? action
Design Design and accessibility.
Regulation.
Principles
Design principles.
Principles
Principles.
- What principles from HCI and platform guidelines make GUIs usable? provenance
- Which sources are cited? provenance
Accessibility
Accessibility.
Accessibility
Accessibility.
- How are GUIs made accessible under WCAG and platform guidelines? provenance
- Which entry fits computer accessibility? action
Context History and future.
Context.
History
History.
History
History.
- How did GUIs develop from Sketchpad and Xerox PARC to the Macintosh, Windows and mobile interfaces? provenance
- Which entry fits the history of the graphical user interface? action
Future
Beyond WIMP.
Future
Future.
- How are touch, voice, gesture and spatial interfaces extending or replacing GUIs? provenance
- Which entry fits natural user interface? action
What the second pass must settle
- Should windowing system and tabbed browsing be separate primary entries?
- How should HCI sources be linked?
- The registry entry has merged aliases naming specific applications; should they be split off?