Upon looking for an interesting topic for this week’s original posting, I became inspired for a specific topic in relation to digital art, media, and technology from an unusual source. When we think of art, are minds typical render the elements of modern art, abstract art, similar to Pablo Picasso, and pop art, which was pioneered by Andy Warhol. These art styles and artist names have been embedded within our memory because of educational influences that pressure these artists, their work, and their lives within our perception of the idea of art. In my research for an original post, I came across what one may not consider art, but most definitely is. Let’s take a GUI in to perspective. Don’t know what that is, how about if we term it as Graphical User Interface? Still no idea as of what I’m speaking of? How about the numerous visual elements that makes up your everyday electronic devices? These lines of code that render out the visuals we see on Cell Phones, Computers, Video Games and much more are most definitely works of art. These GUI’s for short all started out as hand drawn references before they were actually entered into scripting for use in our devices. The GUI’s were not just tossed together without the thought or idea of any artistic styles being used in its composition. Let’s take The GUI of Windows XP for example. The taskbar on the bottom of our monitors surely looks simple, but its design was not meant to be that. In comparison to the interface used in Windows 98, many artistic elements have been used in the later iterations of Operating Systems. For example, numerous bits of colors have been added to icons, taskbars and buttons. Highlights and shadows are now present and our icons for programs have distinct images that represent the program and its function. These all get revamped even more so with the release of Windows Vista, although many numerous elements were taken from Apple’s Operating System. The GUI for the XBOX 360 is (or was) a graphical wonder with its razor like tabs, colorful menus, seamless transitions, easy use, and much more. I say was because this has been updated with an entirely new look called The New XBOX Experience, which utilizes many new artistic styles similar to that seen on the Nintendo Wii, but with mixed responses from critics. This can be explored in much more depth, but I’ll allow the readers’ comments to explore even further as to what we consider art and how we use it.
I see what you mean. The graphic user interface is something we tend to take for granted since we look beyond it and to the function we seek out of it. Of course we don't see a hint of the subroutines and procedures the computer is processing since it's hidden underneath those pretty graphics. I've seen what computers were like when MSDOS, that text command heavy operating system, was the only means of manipulating the computer. White text on a black screen was neither pretty nor friendly by any means.
ReplyDeleteNowadays, with these user-friendly GUIs, we tend to notice only the whir of the computer's fans and power supply.
I completely agree with both you and Vinh. GUI's are taken completely for granted, but are one of the most important components of computers and other devices. While there are many beautiful and intuitive GUI's, as you mentioned, we only really notice them when there is a problem. I'm sure everyone has become frustrated trying to work with a program with a poorly designed interface, or had trouble finding a particular button or function. However, when the GUI is well designed and aesthetically pleasing, we take no notice of it, as it becomes almost like an extension of ourselves, or a midpoint connecting us to the program or device we are using.
ReplyDelete