It is a method of interaction between a human and an electronic device.

The basic aim of the design of the user interfaceuser interfaceuser interface is to create a software which makes the computer easier to operate for the user.

Area forming the background and the workspace for all elements of the operating system.  The icons representing programmes, directories and documents are displayed on the desktop.

Rectangular object placed on the desktop, containing additional objects which enable its modification (i.e. moving, hiding, changing its size).

The basic windowwindowwindow elements:

• window border,

• title bar,

• toolbartoolbartoolbar or ribbonribbonribbon,

• scrollbars (vertical and horizontal),

• status bar,

• close button,

• minimize/maximize button,

• restore button,

• working area,

• taskbartaskbartaskbar,

• menu bar.

Graphical element that represents a file, a directory or other specialized object. The standardization of the icon’s design helps computer users identify files.

Element of a graphical user interfaceuser interfaceuser interface usually placed at the bottom of the screen which contains the icons of the programmes that are currently running in the operating system. The taskbartaskbartaskbar includes also a button that invokes the main menu of the operating system, which enables running programmes and the basic configuration of the system. 

Current operating systems offer several methods of running programmesrunning programmesrunning programmes:

• the main menu (Windows - the Start Menu),

• the Run command,

• a programme shortcut,

• opening a document associated with the application that supports it,

• finding the iconiconicon of the programme file and running it.

All data and programmes on the computer are stored in files. Every file has a filename which consists of two parts: a name and an extension, separated by a dot. The extension identifies the file type.

Most of the programmes save their documents automatically by assigning the appropriate extensions for the files. In order to organize numerous documents stored on the computer, special containers, called folders or directories, are used. Some of the folders, called libraries, are intended for storing user documents (documents, my images, my video). Every computer user can design and use his or her own, unique structure of directories which satisfies his or her needs.

interfejs użytkownika

uruchamianie programów

struktura plików i katalogów

Ikona

okno

pasek zadań

rozszerzenie pliku

wstążka

pasek narzędzi

paski przewijania