Hybrid user interfaces : design guidelines and implementation examples

Abstract

A hybrid user interface is a new type of computer user interface that achieves high usability by combining features of graphical user interfaces and command line interfaces. The main goal of a hybrid user interface is to increase the efficiency of a system that is used to perform repetitive tasks. By adopting the string-based input mechanism of command line interfaces, users of a hybrid user interface are able to populate graphical components using only the keyboard, eliminating the inefficiency of the computer mouse for repetitive tasks. Especially, for applications that require repetitive tasks such as entering multiple data and managing system administration, a hybrid user interface enhances the efficiency of the system significantly. A hybrid user interface can be developed as a new application or can supplement an existing graphical user interface when the efficiency of the system is of major concern.