Vector-based graphical user interface
A vector-based graphical user interface is a mostly conceptual type of graphical user interface where elements are drawn using vector, rather than raster information.
Pro's and Con's
The benefits of a completely vector-based graphical user interface would include:
- more efficient, independent scalability; The resolution (measured in dots per inch or DPI) could be set higher or lower than 1px:1px without causing pixelation, enabling better use of high resolution monitors.
- Crisper graphics
- Potentially easier application design
Cons might include:
- Difficulty integrating raster-based applications. With some effort, this could be accomplished by texturing the entire raster-based application to a vector-based plane (though the disadvantages of raster-based graphics would still stand).
- Slower rendering, greater system requirements. Because today's monitors display only raster-based information, the vector information would have to be rasterized (and optionally anti-aliased) before appearing.
Usage in 3D Graphical User Interfaces
Since current 3D Graphics are usually vector-based, rather than raster-based, vector-based graphical user interfaces would be suitable for 3D graphical user interfaces. This is because raster-based 3D models take up an enormous amount of memory, as they are stored and displayed using voxels. Current operating systems such as Windows Vista, Mac OS X, and UNIX-based operating systems (including Linux) have enjoyed much benefit from using 3D graphical user interfaces. In Windows Vista, for example, Flip3D textures each window to a 3D plane based on vector graphics. Even though the window itself is still raster-based, the plane onto which it is textured is vector-based. As a result, the windows, when rotated, appear flat. In Linux desktops, Beryl can texture each raster-based workspace onto a 3D vector-based cube. As operating systems evolve, eventually the entire window would be made from 3D vector graphics, so that when rotated, it does not appear "flat". Also, advanced lighting may make 3D graphical user interfaces more aesthetically pleasing.
Usage in 2D Graphical User Interfaces
As most computer monitors become more and more high resolution, everything displayed would be smaller. However, if the screen resoluion were turned down, everything would appear pixelated. Thus, resolution independence is currently being designed to solve this problem. With raster graphics, all icons need to be extremely high resolution, so as to not appear pixelated on higher resolution screens. This may take up enormous amounts of memory, and hard disk space. If vector graphics were used instead, it could be easily scalable and never lose data nor appear pixelated.
Some Graphical User Interfaces on Operating System such as Linux, can already use vector based icons. GNOME is one example, having icons which do not become pixelated when enlarged.
Steps have been made in the development of Windows Vista to transition to a vector-based graphical user interface for double (2×) resolution usage. Tests reveal however that double resolution mode, the part of the interface which is not completely vector-based becomes largely broken [1].