How did graphical user interfaces change the way people interact with computers?

The graphical user interface (GUI) fundamentally transformed human-computer interaction by replacing the difficult, text-based command-line interfaces of early computing with a more intuitive, visual system.12

By utilizing symbols, visual metaphors, and pointing devices like the mouse, the GUI made computer operation easier to learn, more pleasant, and more natural. Key changes include:1

• The Desktop Metaphor: Interfaces were designed to mimic a physical workspace, using icons to represent objects like files, folders, and trash cans. This allowed users to manipulate virtual objects on-screen as if they were physical items.12
• Intuitive Navigation: Instead of typing complex commands, users could interact with the system through menus, scroll bars, and overlapping windows, making the process quicker and more accessible to non-experts.13
• WYSIWYG: Through bit mapping, the screen could display output exactly as it would appear in print, a feature known as "what you see is what you get" (WYSIWYG).1

Ultimately, the GUI shifted the focus of computing from rigid, error-prone command sequences to a flexible, visual medium that leverages human perceptual and cognitive abilities.12