CMP-3711 Human Computer Interaction

Credit Hours: 3(3,0)

Prerequisites: None

Course Objectives:

This course focuses on the basic concepts of how human perceives and interacts with computers. Through a set of exercises, students will acquire the ability to critique problems that exist in current interactive software and websites. Students will also learn several usability evaluation methods.

Course Content:

The human: Input–output channels, Human memory, Thinking, Emotion, Individual differences, Psychology and the design of interactive systems. [Ch. 1]
The computer: Text entry devices, Positioning, pointing and drawing, Display devices, Devices for virtual reality and 3D interaction, Physical controls, sensors and special devices, Paper: printing and scanning, Memory, Processing and networks. [Ch. 2]
The interaction: Models of interaction, Frameworks and HCI, Ergonomics, Interaction styles, Elements of the WIMP interface, Interactivity, The context of the interaction, Experience, engagement and fun. [Ch. 3]
Interaction design basics: What is design? The process of design, User focus, Scenarios, Navigation design, Screen design and layout, Iteration and prototyping. [Ch. 5]
HCI in the software process: The software life cycle, Usability engineering, Iterative design and prototyping, Design rationale. [Ch. 6]
Design rules: Principles to support usability, Standards, Guidelines, Golden rules and heuristics, HCI patterns. [Ch. 7]
Implementation support: Elements of windowing systems, Programming the application, Using toolkits, User interface management systems.[Ch. 8]
Evaluation techniques: What is evaluation? Goals of evaluation, Evaluation through expert analysis, Evaluation through user participation, Choosing an evaluation method. [Ch. 9]
Universal design: Universal design principles, Multi-modal interaction, Designing for diversity.[Ch. 10]
User support: Requirements of user support, Approaches to user support, Adaptive help systems, Designing user support systems. [Ch.11]
Task analysis: Differences between task analysis and other techniques, Task decomposition, Knowledge-based analysis, Entity–relationship-based techniques, Sources of information and data collection, Uses of task analysis [Ch. 15]
Dialog notations and design: What is dialog? Dialog design notations, Diagrammatic notations, Textual dialog notations, Dialog semantics, Dialog analysis and design. [Ch. 16]
Models of the system: Standard formalisms, Interaction models, Continuous behaviour.
Modeling rich interaction: Introduction, Status–event analysis, Rich contexts, Low intention and sensor-based interaction. [Ch. 18]
Groupware: Groupware systems, Computer-mediated communication, Meeting and decision support systems, Shared applications and artifacts, Frameworks for groupware, Implementing synchronous groupware. [Ch. 19]
Ubiquitous computing and augmented realities: Ubiquitous computing applications research, Virtual and augmented reality, Information and data visualization. [Ch. 20]
Hypertext, multimedia and the world wide web: Understanding hypertext, Finding things, Web technology and issues, Static web content, Dynamic web content. [Ch. 21]

Textbook(s):

Human-Computer Interaction by Alan Dix, Janet E. Finlay, Gregory D. Abowd, Russell Beale, Prentice Hall; 3rd Edition (December 20, 2003). ISBN-10: 0130461091

Reference Material:

Human-Computer Interaction: Concepts And Design by J. Preece, Y. Rogers, H. Sharp, D. Benyon, S. Holland, T. Carey, Addison Wesley; 1st Edition (April 30, 1994). ISBN-10: 0201627698.
Human-Computer Interaction Handbook: Fundamentals, Evolving Technologies, and Emerging Applications by Julie A. Jacko, CRC Press; 3rd Edition (May 4, 2012). ISBN-10: 1439829438
Interaction Design: Beyond Human - Computer Interaction by Yvonne Rogers, Helen Sharp, and Jenny Preece, Wiley; 3rd Edition (June 15, 2011). ISBN-10: 0470665769
Designing with the Mind in Mind: Simple Guide to Understanding User Interface Design Rules by Jeff Johnson, Morgan Kaufmann; 1st Edition (June 3, 2010). ISBN-10: 012375030X

Course Assessment: