The graphical user interface has evolved from early command line interfaces to modern touchscreen devices. Some key developments include the 1973 Xerox Alto, which had one of the first graphical interfaces with windows, icons, and a mouse. Smalltalk in the 1970s introduced an interactive object-oriented programming environment. The 1981 Xerox Star further advanced graphical interfaces with principles like seeing and pointing, progressive disclosure, and uniformity across applications.