← Years 5–6 Creating Digital Solutions

What is a user interface?

The part of a digital system that you see and use. You give input by touching, clicking or typing, and the screen shows you output.

Part of: 5-6 Digital Technologies Vic Curric - Creating Digital Solutions — Module 30, 7-8 Digital Technologies: Designing user interfaces and experiences — Module 1, 9-10 Digital Technologies: Designing user interfaces and experiences — Module 1, IGCSE Computer Science 0478 — 4.1 Types of Software and Interrupts — Module 18, QCE Digital Solutions Unit 1 — User Experiences and Interfaces — Module 4

Understanding What is a user interface? in Years 5–6 Creating Digital Solutions

What it does: Typing sends input from the user to the system through the interface. The screen is part of the interface that shows output, such as pictures, words and scores. A user interface is what you see and use on the screen, like buttons and text. The hidden parts inside are not the interface. Tapping, clicking and typing are inputs because you are sending information to the system. Reading the screen is you receiving output. Buttons are things you see and use, so they are part of the interface. Tapping is touch input. It is one way you use the interface of a phone or tablet app.

Common mistakes: The photo filling the screen is output, because the screen shows it to you. Touching a photo is the input, so the line should be 'Input: touch a photo'. A mouse is something you use to give input. The screen shows the words, so the line should say 'Output: words show on screen'.

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 21–30) and word search (Modules 21–40).

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Learning
Duo
What is a user interface?
The part of a digital system that you see and useThe wires and chips hidden inside a computer
Matches
The user interface is only the hidden code inside an app.
↓
The user interface is the part you see and use, not the hidden code. It is made of things like the screen, buttons and text boxes.
Applying
Meanings
Term
user interface
Meaning
The part of a digital system that you see and use. You give input by touching, clicking or typing, and the screen shows you output.
Practice
USER INTERFACE: music app
Testing
Gaps
= screen + input + output
Check Answer
Spots
1App: Photo Gallery
2Input: photo fills screen

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Quick Questions

1. What is a user interface?
A. The part of a digital system that you see and use ✓
B. The wires and chips hidden inside a computer
A user interface is what you see and use on the screen, like buttons and text. The hidden parts inside are not the interface.
2. Which one is a way to give INPUT to an interface?
A. Reading a message on the screen
B. Tapping a button on a touch screen ✓
Tapping, clicking and typing are inputs because you are sending information to the system. Reading the screen is you receiving output.
3. Which one is OUTPUT from an interface?
A. A score shown on the screen ✓
B. Typing your name on a keyboard
Output is what the system shows you, like a score. Typing is input because you give it to the system.
4. You open a drawing app on a tablet and draw with your finger. What is this?
A. Touch input through the interface ✓
B. Output from the interface
Using your finger on the screen is touch input. The lines that appear on the screen are the output.
5. A student clicks the mouse on a Play button in a game. Which sentence is true?
A. The Play button is not part of the user interface
B. The Play button is part of the user interface ✓
Buttons are things you see and use, so they are part of the interface.

Match the Pairs

user interface → The part of a digital system that you see and use to give input and get output
tap → A way to give input by touching the screen with your finger
Typing a message on the keyboard is a way to give input to the interface → type
The screen shows the user what the system gives back, which is output → screen
The user interface is only the hidden code inside an app. → The user interface is the part you see and use, not the hidden code. It is made of things like the screen, buttons and text boxes.
You can only use an interface by typing on a keyboard. → Interfaces can be used in many ways. You can touch a screen, click with a mouse or type on a keyboard.

Key Term

user interface
The part of a digital system that you see and use. You give input by touching, clicking or typing, and the screen shows you output.

Fill in the Blanks

1. user interface = screen + input + output
Hint: Type the two-word term for the part of a system that you see and use.
2. Input: touch, click, type
Hint: Type the action you do on a keyboard to give input.
3. Output: the screen shows the result
Hint: Type the part of a device that shows you information.
4. Input: click with a mouse
Hint: Type the action you do with a mouse button to choose something.
5. 1. User taps the Play button (input) 2. App shows the game screen (output)
Hint: Type the word for what the system shows or gives back to the user.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A App: Photo Gallery
B Input: photo fills screen
C Output: photo fills screen
Line B — The photo filling the screen is output, because the screen shows it to you. Touching a photo is the input, so the line should be 'Input: touch a photo'.
Question 2
A App: Notes
B Screen shows a text box
C Input: type on the keyboard
D Output: mouse shows the words
Line D — A mouse is something you use to give input. The screen shows the words, so the line should say 'Output: words show on screen'.
Question 3
A App: Maps
B UI: code hidden inside the app
C Input: tap the search box
D Output: map shows on screen
Line B — The user interface is the part you can see and use, not hidden code. The line should be 'UI: what you see and use'.
Question 4
A Device: laptop
B Input: click with a mouse
C Input: type with a keyboard
D Output: mouse shows the page
Line D — A mouse is for input. The screen shows the output. The line should be 'Output: screen shows the page'.
Question 5
A Phone app: Camera
B Screen shows: the view
C Input: the phone beeps
D Output: photo is saved
Line C — A beep is output, because the phone gives it to you. Tapping the round button is the input, so the line should be 'Input: tap the round button'.

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