GUI. Stands for "Graphical User Interface" and is pronounced "gooey." It is a user interface that includes graphical elements, such as images, icons and buttons. In short, a GUI is a graphical way to do stuff! The term was created in the 1970s to distinguish graphical interfaces from text-based ones, such as command line interfaces. However, today nearly all digital interfaces are GUIs. The icons and buttons on your phone for example and the shortcut icons you create on your desktop are all classed as GUI's.
The main pieces of a GUI are:
- A graphic pointer of some kind. (Image, Icon, buttons, Colored inline Text Link.)
- A set of icons symbolizing various things. (Desktop shortcuts and icons)
- Rectangular frames that hold text. (called windows and dialogs)
- Drop-down menus that are like signposts leading to things you want to do. (Menus on a website)
- Scroll bars that allow you to scoot content around. (So you can scroll through and see things that won't fit otherwise)
- An input device or two. (The mouse is the current favourite, but there are many others, like joysticks, paddle controllers, keyboards)
A control GUI is specifically designed to simplify the end users experience in operating audio visual equipment. A control processor has been programmed to do all of the thinking and processes needed to get a signal from point A to point B. For example, in order to see an image on a screen, the system will turn on a projector, dim the lights to a specific level, mute audio from other sources, route the video to the projector, automatically align up the media, set masking to frame the image and then open the curtains with one push of a button.
The design of GUI control has in itself been well thought out and created to simplify an end user experience.
GUI EXAMPLES
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