Menu-driven interfaces
Explanation of this and its advantages and disadvantages
Menu-driven Interfaces
Advantages
- They are a very simple interface which is very easy to use - this is very useful for beginner users or small children because it is very user friendly and can be used intuitively (so the user does not need instructions on what they must do in order to get it to work).
- There is little (or no) room for error due to the 'multiple choice layout' - this means that the user cannot get anything wrong because all of the possible routes are laid out in front of them. This also makes it ideal for children and beginners because they will be able to use it without having to worry about getting something wrong and potentially damaging the system.
Disadvantages
- This is only suitable where there are a small amounts of items to select from on the menu. If there is a relatively large amount of plausible options which the user could take then this interface is probably not the best choice and a GUI might be more suitable.
- They can limit the possibilities for the user because the route which they want to take may not be on the list they are given. This could be very annoying for the user because if they want to do something and they cannot then they will be stuck.