Topic > The Core Features of Windows 10

List of Features The core feature of Windows 10 is to provide a touch-enabled graphical operating system that uses GUI and keyboard functions to allow the user to communicate effectively with a computer. Some of the key features include its voice assistant, “Cortana,” which helps the user navigate the operating system (Nield, 2015) and tablet mode which helps hybrid devices such as 2-in-1 PCs behave like a tablet when they are self-contained and like a PC when connected to a keyboard. (Chacos, 2015) Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay User errors are prevented in Windows 10 with the use of the updated search function. This feature provides recommendations on possible search results when the user enters letters into the search bar. This prevents the user from opening files, applications etc. unwanted and consequently reduces the time needed to complete the desired task. Furthermore, in many cases, if the user attempts to change system settings or any sensitive data, the operating system warns that this activity requires administrative access which protects the user from potentially destructive actions. The user is not entirely safe from user errors since Windows cannot fully predict user intentions, but Windows does a good job of preventing user errors. Windows has many shortcuts that allow you to perform repetitive functions with ease like switching between tasks using alt+tab which speeds up your workflow. In Windows 10 functions like copy and paste are enabled in the command line adding continuity and consistent workflow across the operating system. (Capati, 2014) When the user first loads Windows, they are prompted to log in to their Microsoft account which stores system preferences and user data making the user experience more convenient in the long run. Windows 10 also features a Game Mode for hardware acceleration that improves gaming performance by reducing background processes that could instead be used to speed up a game. (Chacos, 2017) These optimizations provided by Windows do a great job in optimizing user operations and help make the user experience smooth and seamless when working with multiple tasks at the same time. To give the perception that the user has a high degree of control Windows 10 gives the user options for when a program becomes unresponsive by offering to end a task via the task manager. Choosing the cancel button while waiting for a program to respond stops the program immediately and every time it is clicked. Windows 10 puts a lot of control in the user's hands when they know they can always take an action to get the desired result. Having full control over the results of your actions on Windows gives the user a good impression of the interface and offers simplicity when navigating the operating system. To keep things simple in Windows 10, the user is offered a functional user interface that limits them from performing actions that are not useful to the general user, such as modifying the internal workings of the operating system. Features that might clutter a user's work environment are not visible for a cleaner interface. In Microsoft Edge, the new browser that comes with Windows 10, the user is given an interface that shows only what is relevant to what the user may find useful. It offers a simple user interface that helps the user achieveeffectively what it intended to do on the browser. Windows 10 offers customization of many operating system features to suit the user and does a good job of keeping interaction with the computer simple.6 . In interaction design, to account for the limitations of human memory, information that the user would otherwise forget is stored and recalled when necessary. Usability guidelines recommend giving the user frequent closure of tasks. This is because humans tend to get overwhelmed with overlapping tasks, such as answering a phone call or writing an email. The user is given small subtasks to complete and achieve closure. When Windows 10 manages an installation, the user is only provided with relevant information on each screen to handle one task at a time. This ensures that the user is not overwhelmed by information and is freed from having to remember information entered in previous steps. This convenience allows the user to efficiently navigate through the installation and complete multiple tasks. However, in terms of users unfamiliar with Windows, the limitations of human memory are not well taken into account as tasks are not closed until explicitly canceled by the user. In Windows 10 cognitive immediacy is used in many areas of the operating system, for example when you press a button a screen is highlighted in blue, meaning that a simple press of the Enter key would advance through the current process. Additionally, when a user hovers over an icon, the icon name is displayed as expected, also taking advantage of cognitive immediacy. Having these intuitive features allows for an effective user experience with little to no cognitive effort. The operating system does a good job of cognitive immediacy by sharing many of the same features that users would recognize in previous versions of Windows. Some ways Windows 10 draws inspiration from various real-world analogies is through the use of the Recycle Bin for whenever you want to delete a file but be able to reuse it later unless it is permanently removed. This is based on the reusability aspect of recycling in the real world. The Windows voice assistant behaves much like a real-world assistant, in the sense that it displays personality. If asked for a subjective response, Cortana would give her opinion in a human manner. This helps the user create a better connection with the voice assistant as they can identify with it. Windows 10 offers many real-world similarities that are great for providing an intuitive user experience. The Windows 10 operating system uses the metaphor of a desktop where objects such as files and folders can be placed on it just like on a real desktop. Additionally, files in folders such as txt and pdf files can be viewed like a paper document and edited or marked up like on a real paper document. All of these real-world analogies contribute to effective interaction between the user and the computer by drawing on familiar concepts that they are already aware of.9. Informational feedback is present in Windows 10 when the user presses the Windows key and a menu appears that provides a quick overview of installed apps, photos, and other potentially useful information. All of these features allow the user to interact with the computer with minimal confusion as to whether the desired action was successful. The Windows environment is great at providing informative feedback to veteran users, but can be confusing for unfamiliar users. Windows 10 is aimed at the typical individual user who often. 2018].