|
(a)
Define the term user interface. [1]
(a) The term user interface means the medium
through which the user can
communicate with the system in order to accomplish desired tasks.
Other correct answers should also receive credit. [1 mark]
(b) (i) What is a natural-language interface?
Provide an example to illustrate
your answer. [2]
(ii) List one benefit and one drawback of natural language interfaces.
[2]
(b) (i) A natural-language interface permits
users to interact with the
system via “natural” language (1 mark). Any suitable illustration
of a natural-language interface should receive a further mark.
[2 marks]
(ii) A benefit is that no special skills are required by the user
(1 mark),
while a drawback is that natural language is ambiguous (1 mark).
Other correct answers should also receive credit. [2 marks]
(c) (i) What is a question-and-answer
interface? Provide an example to
illustrate your answer. [2]
(ii) Which type of user might appreciate a question-and-answer interface?
[1]
(c) (i) A question-and-answer interface displays
a question on the
screen, and – in order to interact – the user must enter
an answer
(1 mark). Any suitable illustration of a question-and-answer
interface should receive a further mark. [2 marks]
(ii) New users, who are unfamiliar with computers, might appreciate
a
question-and-answer interface. [1 mark]
(d) (i) What is a command-language interface?
Provide an example to
illustrate your answer. [2]
(ii) Which type of user might appreciate a command-language interface?
[1]
(d) (i) A command-language interface allows
the user to control the
application via a series of commands or phrases (1 mark). Any
suitable illustration of a command-language interface should
receive a further mark. [2 marks]
(ii) Experienced users might appreciate a command-language
interface. [1 mark]
(e) (i) What is a direct-manipulation
interface? Provide an example to
illustrate your answer. [2]
(ii) Why does the creation of direct-manipulation interfaces pose
a
challenge? [2]
(e) (i) A direct-manipulation interface provides
the user with a strong
metaphor of the application, and allows direct manipulation of this
graphical representation. Any suitable illustration of a direct-manipulation
interface should receive a further mark. [2 marks]
(ii) An appropriate model of reality must be developed (1 mark); this
requires combining several skills (1 mark).
Other correct answers should also receive credit. [2 marks]
|