IT 482: Human Computer Interaction
Contents
Concepts and techniques for user interface design and human computer interaction.
Emphasizes user-centered design, interface development techniques, and
usability evaluation. Various interface devices and metaphors. Visual development
environments and other development tools. Project work.
This course (IT 482) is not a prerequisite for any other IT course.
This course is normally scheduled every fall semester.
(
under construction...)
The following content areas will be covered.
- Human-Computer Interaction Fundamentals (about 3 hours)
- Human-Computer Interface Quality and Evaluation (about 4 hours)
- Dimensions of Interface Variability (about 8 hours)
- User-Centered Design and Task Analysis (about 8 hours)
- User Interface Implementation (about 11 hours)
- HCI Science and Research (about 4 hours)
- HCI Development Process (about 1 hour)
- Social Effects on HCI (about 4 hours)
- HCI Methodology (about 3 hours)
- Human-Machine Fit and Adaptation (about 2 hours)
- Human Information Processor (about 10 hours)
Additional topics may also be covered based on time and student interest.
By the end of this course, you should be able to
- explain the importance of user interface design
- explain the relationship of the discipline of user interface design to the science of human-computer interaction
- explain why changing a system using direct manipulation produces different properties
- list and explain measures of user interface quality
- list and explain methods for observation and evaluation
- explain how help systems differ from other kinds of (printed) documentation
- explain the importance of user support and assistance in HCI
- explain the role of metaphor in dialogue genre
- explain when specific dialogue techniques are called for
- explain how HCI designs evolve over time and how to reduce the resulting economic effects
- explain how socio-technical issues affect HCI development
- explain how user-centered design differs from traditional design techniques
- explain the process of prototyping and the iterative design cycle
- explain the role of principles and guidelines in HCI design
- explain where and how HCI fits into commonly-used software development design models
- demonstrate the ability to use HCI prototyping tools and environments to construct an effective user interface for a typical business application
- list the specific disciplines that comprise HCI and explain the information and solutions provided by each discipline
- demonstrate the ability to follow a standard development process (e.g., unified model) and include HCI in that development process
- demonstrate the ability to use alternative system development processes
- explain how models of work, workflow and cooperative activity affect UI design
- explain how small group dynamics affects worker output
- explain how small group dynamics can affect UI design and vice-versa
- explain how to take social networks into account when designing a UI
- explain typical was that information flows through an organization
- demonstrate the ability to administer a survey
- demonstrate the ability to design an effective questionnaire
- demonstrate the ability to use unobtrusive measures
- explain how to design a system that adapts to different user types
- explain how users adapt to new environments and how this affects UI design
- explain the nature and theory of adaptive systems
- explain the relationship of UI design, user types, and system design
- list and explain theories of system adoption and methodology used to ascertain and motivate adoption
- list several methods for training and explain each one's advantages and disadvantages
- explain human architecture and performance of critical subunits (e.g., memory, perception, motor skills)
- list several applications of model human information processor and explain the relationship to UI design
Final textbook choice is determined by the instructor, who may
choose a textbook similar to one the following. This list can give you an
idea of the course topics, coverage, and depth.
- Benyon, Turner, Turner, Designing Interactive Systems: People, Activities, Contexts, Technologies, Addison-Wesley, 2005(ISBN: 0321116291)
- Carroll, Human-Computer Interaction in the New Millennium, Addison Wesley Professional, 2001(ISBN: 0201704471)
- Dix, Finlay, Abowd, Beale, Human-Computer Interaction (3rd), Prentice Hall, 2004(ISBN: 0130461091)
- Lauesen, User Interface Design: A Software Engineering Perspective, Addison-Wesley, 2005(ISBN: 0321181433)
- Lazar, Web Usability: A User-Centered Design Approach, Addison-Wesley, 2006(ISBN: 0321321359)
- McCracken, Wolfe, User-Centered Web Site Development: A Human-Computer Interaction Approach, Prentice Hall, 2004(ISBN: 0130411612)
- Shneiderman, Plaisant, Designing the User Interface: Strategies for Effective Human-Computer Interaction (4th), Addison-Wesley, 2005(ISBN: 0321197860)
- Wickens, Lee, Liu, Gordon-Becker, Introduction to Human Factors Engineering (2nd), Prentice Hall, 2004(ISBN: 0131837362)
Additional readings may be assigned by the instructor.
