[developer2]

>> if "familiar interface" is your only requirement, I'd suggest to install a door handle or light switch

This isn't far from the truth. You'd be better of providing a console with clearly labelled buttons and switches. No operating system exposed to the user. It's not very practical to implement, let alone make changes to, but it would be more dummy proof than any desktop application.

This is also why you see a lot of kiosk-like, full-screen applications, with no ability to actually work with the desktop interface itself. A single kiosk application that cannot be alt-tabbed out of, providing screens that are easy to navigate.