userinput.md

Inputs

Classes of user interfaces

Command Language

Advantages

• Can carry out a lot of tasks fast
• Experienced users generally prefer it
• Some stuff that can be done in command language is difficult to reproduce in a GUI

Disadvantages

• Difficult to learn
• Generally doesn't have instanst feedback, e.g delete a file using rm filename how do we know it has removed the file?
• Mistakes are more common
• User has to know the commands which can be complex

Natural Language

Advantages

• Easy to learn
• Sophisticated
• User is used to communicating in this form

Disadvantages

• Difficult to program
• Lot of typing on user's part generally (slow)
• Computer not guaranteed to understand the way user is expressing what they wish to do (unclear)

Menu Systems

Advantages

• Good for selecting choices
• Generally easy to understand
• System has no trouble understanding choices
• Easy to learn

Disadvantages

• Can be restrictive, may not offer all actions user wishes to perform
• More suited to novice users

Form filling dialogues

Advantages

• Makes data entry easy
• Programmer can hint at what they wish an input to look like
• Good for reading in bulk user info

Disadvantages

• Generally has to be designed specifically for a particular system

GUIs / Direct manipulation interfaces

Advantages

• Very easy to learn
• User gets feedback instantly
• Represent tasks metaphorically

Disadvantages

• Difficult to design
• In some cases it can be restrictive