GUI: An Overview

Let's discuss the history of GUI, why it was needed, and how it was made available.

Main types of computers

Modern OSs are able to solve a wide range of tasks. These tasks depend on the type of computer where we run the OS. Below are the main types of computers:

  • Personal computers (PC) and notebooks
  • Smartphones and tablets
  • Servers
  • Embedded systems
A personal computer, cell phone, tablet, and server

User interface

We will consider OSs for PCs and notebooks only. Apart from multitasking, they provide a graphic user interface (GUI). This interface is the way to interact with the system: we launch applications, configure computer devices and OS components, all via the user interface. Let’s take a look at its history and how it reached its current state.

History of UI

Nobody worked with commercial computers interactively before 1960. Digital Equipment Corporation implemented the interactive mode for their ...

Access this course and 1400+ top-rated courses and projects.