Primary functions of the main menu?

The main menu is an element of computers and information appliances. It is a part of the user interface that allows users to interact with the machine.

The primary purpose of the main menu is to organize the types of interactions (e.g. commands, operations, requests, outputs, configurations, etc.) that are possible between the user (usually a person) and the machine/computer itself.

The main menu is the first layer of abstraction - or virtual organization - into which the entire set of interactions/commands are grouped. If this menu is organized in a way that most users will intuitively understand, then that menu is considered useful. However, it is difficult to create a main menu (or any menu) that will be intrinsically understandable by the many types of users in the world. The main menu has to be designed for users who have never used a computer, for those who are beginners, for those with visual impairments, for those with cognitive difficulties, and even for very experienced users who may prefer to bypass them.

The concepts of a main menu were originally developed forty to fifty years ago, during the early years of the field of computer science. A main menu is now considered an archaic user interface technique, are not found in simple to use yet powerful new computers and appliances.

Main menus are still common on most computers and appliances. Most audio-visual equipment such as televisions have a main menu to help users configure them. Even some automobiles have used main menus to organize their vehicle information, audio, video, and navigation sub-systems. The most well-known main menus are those in the Microsoft Vista and Windows 7 operating systems - which have multiple main menus (the Start button and additional main menus for each opened application) - ironically this makes them more difficult for new users to understand. Modern information appliances such as the iphone, iPod Touch, and the recent ipad don't use a main menu within their "operating system", instead favoring modal or other user interface designs (though individual apps can use menus).