Characteristics of a web interface :
1. Devices:
- In traditional GUI design, like on computers, designers know the exact device (monitor, modem) characteristics.
- Web design has to consider a wide range of devices, from small handheld devices to high-end computers.
2. User Focus:
- GUI focuses on specific tasks and transactions within well-defined applications.
- Web interfaces are more about browsing and navigating through information on various pages.
3. Data/Information:
- In GUI, data is typically from known and trusted sources within the user’s organization.
- Web content is often from unknown sources, making the reliability and truthfulness uncertain.
4. Printed Pages vs. Web Pages:
- Printed pages are larger, fixed in size, and maintain visual impact in hard-copy form.
- Web pages are variable in size, may not show all content at once, and have layout approximations due to browser and screen differences.
5. Page Layout:
- Printed pages have precise layouts with meticulous attention.
- Web page layout is more approximate due to limitations in design toolkits, browsers, and screen sizes.
6. Page Resolution:
- Screen resolution for characters is still lower compared to print, affecting reading speed.
- The goal is to achieve screen resolution sharp enough to match newspaper reading speed.