[1] : The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (27 SEP 03)

macintosh user interface
     
         the graphical user interface used by
        apple computer's macintosh family of personal computers,
        based on graphical representations of familiar office objects
        sheets of paper, files, wastepaper bin, etc. positioned on a
        two-dimensional "desktop" workspace.
     
        programs and data files are represented on screen by small
        pictures icons.  an object is selected by moving a mouse
        over the real desktop which correspondingly moves the
        pointer on screen.  when the pointer is over an icon on
        screen, the icon is selected by pressing the button on the
        mouse.
     
        a hierarchical file system is provided that lets a user
        "drag" a document a file icon into and out of a folder
        directory icon.  folders can also contain other folders and
        so on.  to delete a document, its icon is dragged into a
        trash can icon.  for people that are not computer
        enthusiasts, managing files on the macintosh is easier than
        using the ms-dos or unix command-line interpreter.
     
        the macintosh always displays a row of menu titles at the top
        of the screen.  when a mouse button is pressed over a title, a
        pull-down menu appears below it.  with the mouse button held
        down, the option within the menu is selected by pointing to it
        and then releasing the button.
     
        unlike the ibm pc, which, prior to microsoft windows had
        no standard graphical user interface, macintosh developers
        almost always conform to the macintosh interface.  as a
        result, users are comfortable with the interface of a new
        program from the start even if it takes a while to learn all
        the rest of it.  they know there will be a row of menu options
        at the top of the screen, and basic tasks are always performed
        in the same way.  apple also keeps technical jargon down to a
        minimum.
     
        although the macintosh user interface provides consistency; it
        does not make up for an application program that is not
        designed well.  not only must the application's menus be clear
        and understandable, but the locations on screen that a user
        points to must be considered.  since the mouse is the major
        selecting method on a macintosh, mouse movement should be kept
        to a minimum.  in addition, for experienced typists, the mouse
        is a cumbersome substitute for well-designed keyboard
        commands, especially for intensive text editing.
     
        urban legned has it that the mac user interface was copied
        from xerox's palo alto research center.  although it is
        true that xerox's smalltalk had a gui and xerox introduced
        some gui concepts commercially on the xerox star computer in
        1981, and that steve jobs and members of the mac and lisa
        project teams visited parc, jef raskin, who created the mac
        project, points out that many gui concepts which are now
        considered fundamental, such as dragging objects and pull-down
        menus with the mouse, were actually invented at apple.
     
        pull-down menus have become common on ibm, commodore and
        amiga computers.  microsoft windows and os/2
        presentation manager, digital research's gem,
        hewlett-packard's new wave, the x window system, risc
        os and many other programs and operating environments also
        incorporate some or all of the desktop/mouse/icon features.
     
        apple computer have tried to prevent other companies from
        using some gui concepts by taking legal action against them.
        it is because of such restrictive practises that organisations
        such as the free software foundation previously refused to
        support ports of their software to apple machines, though this
        ban has now been lifted.  why?  when?
     
        1996-07-19
     
     
see also:
graphical user interface apple computer macintosh personal computers desktop icon 
mouse pointer hierarchical file system drag folder 
trash can ms-dos unix command-line interpreter pull-down menu 
ibm pc microsoft windows application program urban legned xerox 
palo alto research center smalltalk xerox star steve jobs lisa 
pull-down menu ibm commodore amiga os/2 
presentation manager digital research gem hewlett-packard new wave 
x window system risc os gui free software foundation 

Macintosh User >> M Words
Macintosh User, definition of term: Macintosh User
macintosh+user_pag1.html

Macintosh >> M Words
Macintosh, definition of term: Macintosh
macintosh_pag1.html

Interface >> I Words
Interface, definition of term: Interface
interface_pag1.html

Macintosh File >> M Words
Macintosh File, definition of term: Macintosh File
macintosh+file_pag1.html

Graphical User >> G Words
Graphical User, definition of term: Graphical User
graphical+user_pag1.html

End User >> E Words
End User, definition of term: End User
end+user_pag1.html