Comparing GUI And The Web-Based User Interface

When we talk about the GUI And Web-Based User Interface, it is important to understand that these are the indefinite entities which are interactive in nature. The approaches for designing a web application is entirely different when compared to designing a typical user interface. The primary goal of a web designer is to design a user-oriented interface and provide them the full control. This task is carried out jointly in accordance with the hardware or software being used at the client’s end. Let’s have a look on the different aspects.

Device Type

In the case of a GUI application, the design should be an exact copy of what you actually want to reflect on the user’s screen. A GUI designer is aware of the every individual unit present on the user’s device. Based on those specifications, every pixel on the screen is controlled and linked. However, a web designer cannot take any assumptions as a user can access the internet through any device, operating system or the web browser. The look and the feel are completely different on each medium specific to the dimensions and other characteristics of the device.

 

Consistency

GUI applications enjoy the benefits of consistency as it enables the users to utilize the knowledge of concepts that is acquired from a source to be used in  another application. However, in a web application, the emphasis is laid upon the isolated identity of an application. And as far as the consistency constraints are concerned, they are imposed using technologies like Java, JavaScript and HTML.

 

Integration

GUI design incorporates a number of on-board capabilities for importing, exporting and seamless integration into any platform.These design schemes tend to support the operations that require performing on a clipboard, such as the copy and paste or cut and paste capabilities.

 

With respect to a website, integration holds a different relevance. It has to primarily deal with the controls such as navigation options, printing features etc. Additionally, a website has to be dynamic in nature. Interoperability among the sites is something which is not expected implicitly from a web application.

 

Navigation

When we talk about navigation in GUI design, it is totally controlled by the web designer. Various components of navigation such as the menu options, buttons, links etc. can be designed based on the state and need of the application. In addition, pop or alert boxes can also be triggered on the occurrence of a particular action.

 

On the other hand, the users in web applications are completely set free and have the entire control of the navigation flow. The web designer cannot restrict the user with any specified work-flow or a path to navigate.  Visitors can directly move to the page where they want to visit and can create and customize their own interface.