Since the Xerox PARK first worked out a PC with GUI, it has changed a lot. Early GUIs, like those on the original Macintosh and Windows, were pretty simple black-and-white icons, basic shapes, and limited screens. Despite the simplicity, they made computers more accessible. Today, with high-quality screens, we have vibrant, complex icons, animations, and features like touch gestures and dark modes, which make interacting smoother and more natural.

But some basics haven’t changed. The desktop layout, with folders and files, and the windows system for organizing open applications are still here because they’re intuitive. However, one area that could improve is adaptability. Now that tech is so advanced, GUIs could be smarter about adjusting to user habits, like brightness or layout changes based on time or context. It feels like the next step for GUIs is to become more personalized and context-aware.