Introduction to Graphical Interfaces

A user interface allows a user to interact with a computer. In particular, a GUI (graphical user interface) allows the user to use a mouse to interact with the computer. Microsoft Windows (commonly referred to as Windows) is a common GUI used on PCs (IBM compatible personal computers). The main Windows background screen is called the desktop. Programs, files and folders are represented on the desktop by small images called icons. Using a mouse, the user can move a pointer (cursor) across the screen. An icon can be selected by clicking the left mouse button (i.e. quickly pressing and releasing the button). By holding the pointer over an icon (hovering), a text box can be made to appear that explains what the icon represents. This text box is known as a tooltip. Double-clicking the mouse (pressing and releasing the button twice in quick succession) causes the program, file or folder represented by the icon to open in a rectangular box on the screen called a window. More than one window can be open at a time but the one with the focus is known as the active window. Windows can have a vertical scroll bar and a horizontal scroll bar to allow the user to move a document up and down or across the screen respectively. A user can drag a selected item from one part of the screen to another by holding down the left mouse button while moving the pointer. The user can then drop the item at the new location by releasing the mouse button.

Commands are displayed in a menu bar along the top of the window. Clicking on a command opens a list of choices known as a menu. Clicking on a menu item sometimes opens another related menu called a submenu. Common commands include:

Find	· searches for a word, filename, or folder name
Undo	· reverses the last action of the user
Cut	· deletes the selected text, file or folder and copies it to a special area of memory called the clipboard
Paste	· inserts the text, file or folder stored in the clipboard, at the location of the cursor
Clipboard	· is a special area of memory to store copied or cut out pieces of information

A bar, known as a taskbar, is displayed along the bottom of the desktop showing what programs, files and folders are currently open. At the far right of the taskbar is a special area called the system tray where icons are displayed showing what resident programs are continuously running in the background e.g. the system clock or a sound volume control. There is a Start button at the far left of the taskbar. When the Start button is clicked, the Start menu opens on the screen. The user can close down the operating system by choosing the Shut Down option on the Start Menu. A touch screen allows the user to select icons and commands by touching the display screen with their finger instead of using a mouse. Graphical user interfaces were first introduced with the Apple Mac OS. Other GUIs with desktops, icons, pointers, windows, menus and submenus are also available.

Common icons on the Microsoft Windows desktop include:

Microsoft Outlook	a messaging program
My Briefcase	a program that allows the user to exchange files with a portable computer and to synchronies the files on each computer
Network Neighborhood or My Network Places	a feature that displays the names of other computers networked with yours
My Computer	a feature that lets you see the resources on your computer
Internet Explorer	a browser program that allows the user to view WebPages on the Internet
Recycle Bin or Trashcan (on an Apple Macsystem)	a feature that stores deleted files and allows the user to restore them to their original location i.e. the equivalent to the Trashcan on an Apple Mac system

А + sign used between the names of keyboard keys means that the user should press both keys simultaneously e.g. ALT + TAB. Keyboard keys and combination of keys mentioned in the text include:

Shift key	allows you to type in uppercase (capital letters)
MouseKeys feature	enables you to use the numeric keypad to move the mouse pointer
ALT+ TAB	allows you to switch between open programs
Sticky Keys feature	helps disabled people to operate two keys simultaneously
Print Screen key	lets you copy an image of the whole screen to the Clipboard
ALT+ PRINT	lets you copy an image screenof the active window to the Clipboard

4. Give Russian equivalents to the following words and phrases:

Desktop; background screen; touch screen; folder; in quick succession; icon; hovering; shut down; release; system tray; image; compatible; in particular; refer to; a user interface; GUI; cause; allow; interact; click.

5. Give English equivalents to the following words and phrases:

Иметь отношение, ссылаться на что-либо; в особенности, в частности; сенсорный экран; пульт управления; выключение, отключение (машины); освобождать; находиться в режиме висения; графический символ; изображение; экран заднего плана; совместимый; системный объединительный блок; в быстрой последовательности; заставлять; папка; щёлкать (по клавише); графический интерфейс; интерфейс пользователя; взаимодействовать; позволять, разрешать.

6. Using information from the text, mark the following as True or False:

		True	False
	Computers have become so technically advanced that they will soon be able to operate without any help.
	Together human beings and computers can make up a very capable team because their strengths are complementary while their disadvantages are offsetting.
	When computers are classified according to the type of data they are capable of hand ling, they are classified as being either digital or analog.
	When computers are classified according to the purpose they are classified as general – purpose or special – purpose computers.
	People are well suited for thinking, reasoning, adapting, innovating, applying intuition, and learning from experience.
	Computers are particularly suited for calculating, performing repetitive tasks, and making comparisons, all with a high degree of accuracy and reliability.

7. Complete the following sentences consulting the text and translate them into Russian:

1. Double-clicking the mouse (pressing and releasing the button twice in quick succession) causes the program, file or folder …

2. More than one window can be open at a time but …

3. Commands are displayed in a menu bar (контекстноеменю) …

4. A bar, known as a taskbar, is displayed along the bottom of the desktop …

5. A user interface allows a user to interact …

6. A user can drag a selected item from one part of the screen to another by holding down …

7. There is a Start button at the far left …

8. A touch screen allows the user to select icons and commands by …

9. Using a mouse, the user can move a pointer …

10. Graphical user interfaces were first introduced with …

8. Translate from Russian into English:

1. Команды показаны в контекстном меню, находящемся в верхней части окна.

2. Программы, файлы и папки представлены в компьютере маленькими изображениями, называемыми графическими символами.

3. Можно открыть сразу более одного окна.

4. Слева панели заданий находится кнопка запуска.

5. Сенсорный экран позволяет пользователю выбрать графические символы и команды, дотрагиваясь до дисплея пальцем.

6. Используя мышь, пользователь может передвигать курсор вдоль экрана.

7. Интерфейс графического взаимодействия был впервые использован с операционной системой AppleMacOS.

8. Пользователь может затем передвинуть данный элемент в новое место, освободив кнопку мыши.

9. Интерфейс пользователя позволяет человеку взаимодействовать с компьютером.

10. Пользователь может передвинуть выбранный элемент с одной части экрана на другой.

9. Do you agree or disagree? Discuss the following statements. Prove your opinion.

1. The computer has two capabilities that make it a particularly valuable tool for human use:

a Computer is extraordinary fast compared to human beings;

b Computer is much more accurate and reliable than a human being.

2. The computer has some critical disadvantage.Which of the following are they?

a Cannot think pr reason.

b Unreliable and inaccurate.

c Unable to perform long, arduous tasks.

d Cannot avoid human programming.

3. Computers applicationsare generally fall into one of the following categories:

a commercial applications;

b engineering;

c research;

d process control;

e non-numerical applications;

4. Because of extraordinary technological development during the past decades, the term “computer” has become a house-hold word.