BASIC GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE (GUI) OBJECTS

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1 BASIC GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE (GUI) OBJECTS Background or Desktop Image Picture object only that can be changed to suit the user's preferences. This object is designed to help the user not become bored with an all white or all black background when looking at the computer screen. Desktop Small Folder area created by the Operating System for storing some GUI objects, short-cuts for program access or network locations, icons for program applications or data files. This desktop object is intended to work like a real desktop. We place objects on it that we intend to work on or tools we intend to use everyday. We don't clutter it with things that interfere with our use of space in the real world so we don't want to clutter it in the digital world either. Icons, or tiles objects representing either links to specific application programs or hyperlinks to those applications and/or data files A hyperlink is a text or graphic object that when clicked provides a location link to specific executable program instructions or data files. The word icon is a Greek Word meaning flat two dimensional picture most of the icons and tiles are two dimensional objects only. Some operating systems make use of 3D icons but this takes up a great deal of the computer's working memory space (RAM) so most operating systems avoid using to much working memory space for this type of object. Start Button A button that provides access to main features of the operating system and applications stored on the computer. The button shape can be rectangular, circular, or other geometric shape and it may or may not have the text label Start on it. This button can be located at the top or bottom of the screen, but is generally placed on the left side of the screen because we read left to right.

2 Menus Lists of specific tasks that can be performed by selecting the menu options or using shortcuts from the Keyboard. Menu's in some operating systems may be replaced by a tabbed ribbon of icon tools that function in the same way. The tabbed arrangement is similar to an index tab arrangement like in a recipe file or address book. User Objects In new operating systems these provide access to user accounts and specific operating system controls that a user may access by logging in to their account. One typical user object is the object that represents access to Settings/Preferences/Properties of the operating system that can be customized or adjusted to suit user preferences. This user object is often a gear Task Bars (Optional, but exist in some GUI's) These objects allow for the placement of buttons that will quickly launch programs, and or utilities on the system, as well as display information about background programs using portions of the RAM of the computer while other programs are in operation. Task bars can be on any side of the screen (top, bottom, or either side). They are most often found at either the top or bottom of the screen. Widgets Objects that can be added to perform special functions such as a Clock or Calendar or Weather Indicator

3 Buttons Objects used to activate some specific function within a larger object, such as buttons on the Task Bar or Buttons on a Window Frame. Buttons can take any shape (square, rectangle, triangle, circle or oval). Scroll Bars Objects in a Window that allow you to move vertically or horizontally in a Window when the Windows is not Maximized. The presence of a scroll bar generally means there is more content to be seen in a window object then is presently on our viewing screen. Windows All Windows are Rectangular viewing areas of various shapes that display program or data content for the user. All Windows have common features as well. Windows are primarily a rectangular frame through which we are viewing some type of program or data content, just like windows in the real world where we look through panes of glass to see what is on the other side. The Windows Operating System was not developed by Microsoft. Xerox developed the system and it was borrowed and adapted by Apple Computer first. Later Microsoft Licensed the operating system to use on their IBM computer. Microsoft simply coined the name for the Graphical User Interface structures through which the program instructions or data content was being viewed.

4 Common Windows objects: See Image Below Microsoft Style Desktop

5 Apple MacIntosh Desktop NOTE: ios for ipad, Android for Nook, Dell, and Asus all application use icons on a Desktop with minimal Operating System objects. Microsoft Windows 8 and Surface operating systems use a tiled based system instead of Icons with minimal operating system controls on the Desktop.

6 Ubuntu Linux Desktop: