The User Interface

All computer designers are faced with the question of how users are going o communicate with the machine in order to get it to do what they want it to do. The operating system performs five basic functions in the operations of computer system providing a user interface, resource management, task management, file management and utilities, and support services.

The user interfaces the part of the operating system that allows the user to communicate with it so he can load program, access files and accomplish other tasks.

It is that portion of an interactive computer system that communicates with the user. Design of the user interface includes any aspect of the system that is visible to the user.

The user interface for ENIAC and other early computers consisted of switches or plugs for configuring the machine for a particular problem.

The user interface encompasses all components of a device with which users operate the device or attain information. If well designed, the user interface could facilitate users to conduct actions intuitively and to achieve tasks effectively and efficiently. Three main types of user interfaces are the command-driven, menu-driven, and graphical user interface.

The trend in user interfaces for operating systems and other software is moving away from the entry of brief and user commands, or even the selection of choices from menus options. Instead most software provides an easy-to- use graphical user interface (GUI) that uses icons, bars, button, boxes, and other images. GUIs rely on pointing devices like the electronic mouse or touch-pad to make selections that help the user get things done.

Because much interactions with computers is now away from the desktop and taking place on laptops, handheld or palm computers and even in cars, there is likely to be continuing experimentation with user interface design.
The User Interface

Unauthorized use of computer system

Two risks related to network and the internet are unauthorized access and unauthorized use. The unauthorized use of computer systems and networks can be called time and resource theft.

Access control systems are used to control access to a computer, network or other resource.

Unauthorized can occur even if the user is authorized to access that computer or network but is not authorized for that particular activity.

This include possessed knowledge access systems that use password or other types of possessed knowledge; possessed object access systems  that use physical objects and biometric access system.

For employees of some companies, checking personal e-mail at work might be classified as unauthorized use.

The unauthorized use, access, modification and destruction of hardware, software, data or network resource is defined as computer crime by the Association of Information Technology Professionals.
Unauthorized use of computer system 

Features of Electronic Mail

The first thing many people do at work all over the world is check their e-mail. Electronic mail has changed the way people work and communicate.

E-mail is electronically transmitted mail via computer and hand phone. Depending on its size, which is weighed in bytes, the transmission of data takes places within a few seconds or minutes.

Based on history, E-mail is a byproduct of the US military Defense System. Before the usefulness of E-mail was perceived, the internet was widely employed initially for military and academic use.

Millions of end users now depend on E-mail software to communicate with each other by sending and receiving electronic messages via the Internet or their organizations’ intranets or extranets.

E-mail is used in businesses, government department, universities, schools, homes, kiosks and on mobile laptops, hand phone, pagers and personal digital assistants.

E-mail is the fastest, most flexible, cost efficient, personalized and targeted communication medium in the world today.

Full featured E-mail software like Microsoft Exchange E-mail can route the messages to multiple end users based on predefined mailing lists and provide password security, automatic message forwarding and remote user access.

They also allow us store messages in folders with provisions for adding attachments to message files. E-mail packages may also enable us to edit and send graphics and multimedia as well as text, and provide bulletin board and computer conferencing capabilities.

People have two fundamental communication needs that various forms of technology can aid: speed and regularity.

While the telephone provides rapid, real time communication, electronic mail provides a regularity that is lacking in telephone communication.

E-mail became popular because of its relatively low cost, high reliability and most instantaneous delivery as compared with regular mail.

E-mail provides a high level of informality, a sense of community and sharing, wide tolerance of selling and typographical errors and brevity of expression.
Features of Electronic Mail