The most widely used type of graphical user interfaces are WIMP systems.

WIMP stands for Windows Icons Menu Pointer.

Options are represented by small pictures or 'icons' arranged inside rectangular boxes called windows.

The main advantage of graphical user interfaces is that they are very easy to use, especially for a beginner.

The main disadvantage is the amount of memory space they need. A graphical user interface needs a lot of RAM to run properly and takes up a large amount of hard disk space.

User interface design

A good user interface should be;

• User-friendly; Consistency in operation, screen layout etc;
• Colours should be chosen carefully e.g. that are easy to see;
• Sound can be used to do things such as alerting the user to problems but it should also be possible to turn it off;
• On-line help is often a useful feature