USER INTERFACE

 User interface is the system by which people (users) interact with a machine. The user interface includes hardware (physical) and software (logical) components. User interfaces exist for various systems, and provide a means of :-

o Input, allowing the users to manipulate a system, and/or
o Output, allowing the system to indicate the effects of the users' manipulation.

 Generally, the goal of human-machine interaction engineering is to produce a user interface which makes it easy, efficient, enjoy to operate a machine in the way which produces the desired result. This generally means that the operator needs to provide minimal input to achieve the desired output, and also that the machine minimizes undesired outputs to the human.

 Ever since the increased use of personal computers and the relative decline in societal awareness of heavy machinery, the term user interface has taken on overtones of the (graphical) user interface, while industrial control panel and machinery control design discussions more commonly refer to human-machine interfaces.