Distinguish between types of user interface

An interface is a way to get instructions from the user to the computer and feedback from the computer to the user. There are three main ways in which users can input data or instructions to and get results or feedback from the computer

Software Interface
Command Driven Interface This type of interface means that all commands for the computer must be typed in using a keyboard. The prompt C:\Documents and Settings\Glenda> at the bottom of the screen is used to enter commands. This means that the commands must be known in order to get the correct results. Usually programmers and experts would use the command driven interface.
Examples of Command driven interfaces are MS-DOS and UNIX.

Command Driven Interface

Menu Driven Interfaces The Menu Driven Interface was an improvement over the Command Driven Interface. The user now had menu options to choose from instead of having to memorize the commands.

Menu Driven Interface

Some popular programs now include a menu and ribbon so that the options are easily accessed, as shown below:

Menu Driven Interface with Ribbon

Options from the menus can be pulled-down from the top of the screen as shown below...

...while other options pop-up anywhere on the screen, as shown below.

Graphical User Interface (GUI) An improvement of the pop-up or pull-down menu driven interface is the Graphical User Interface (GUI - pronounced GOO-ee).
In addition to the menu driven interface, this interface also uses pictures called icons to represent commands and programs. So a picture of a printer would represent the option to print something. This makes it easier and more user friendly for the user. The diagram below illustrates some of the icons of a GUI. Examples of GUIs are Windows and MAC OS. The mouse is typically used with a GUI.

Hardware Interface
Hardware interfaces are sometimes used to help with the input of data. Voice activated interfaces, touch screens and Braille keyboards are some examples of hardware interfaces:

Some Automatic Banking Machines (ABMs) have audio-controlled instructions for the visually impaired. Other ABMs have lights that blink to show the user where the collect cash or deposit envelopes.

Touch screens are becoming popular. They are replacing the use of the mouse as an input device where the user's finger acts as to select icons on the screen.

Braille Keyboards are also useful for the visually impaired to input data to the computer.