CS22310 - USER CENTRED DESIGN AND HUMAN COMPUTER INTERACTION

Module Identifier

CS22310

Module Title

USER CENTRED DESIGN AND HUMAN COMPUTER INTERACTION

Academic Year

2005/2006

Co-ordinator

Dr Mark J Neal

Semester

Semester 2

Other staff

Dr Frederick W Long, Dr Mark J Neal

Co-Requisite

CS22120 or CI22120

Course delivery

Lecture

Seminars / Tutorials

Up to 12 x 1hr

Assessment

Assessment Type	Assessment Length/Details	Proportion
Semester Exam	2 Hours	100%
Supplementary Exam	Will take the same form, under the terms of the Department's policy.

Further details

http://www.aber.ac.uk/compsci/ModuleInfo/CS22310

Learning outcomes

This module will enable the student to incorporate principles of user centred design into the development of applications built on modern windowing systems.

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

design and implement effective user interfaces, making appropriate use of development techniques.
apply task and user modelling techniques to the design and evaluation of an interactive system.
appreciate the limitations of human capacities, and identify how they affect design choices.

Aims

This course deals with the issue of how systems should be built in order to make them understandable by, and accessible to, users. Principles of good interface design are introduced and applied to the issue of human computer interaction. The course also considers methods and tools for achieving good computer interface design.

Content

1. Fundamental principles of good design - 3 Lectures

Functionality. Usability. Socio-technical system interaction. Task and dialogue levels.

2. Models for Human Computer Interaction - 3 Lectures

Mental models. Taskflow models. Dialogue interaction models. Interface metaphors.

3. Methods for Human Computer Interaction - 3 Lectures

Requirements specification. User interface design. Evaluation techniques. Star Lifecycle.

4. Guidelines for screen interfaces - 4 Lectures

HCI characteristics, human cognitive abilities, attention, short-term memory, use of colour.

5. Implementation level issues - 3 Lectures

Types of interface device. Types of interaction. Personal digital assistants. Mobile devices.

6. Current and future developments - 4 Lectures

Examples of systems which are stretching the application of techniques covered in this module and opening up new interaction modes. Direct brain interfaces, wearable computers and ubiquitous systems.

Module Skills

Problem_solving	This is inherent to the topic.
Research skills	The students will need to search for and use relevant technical information while completing practical work.
Communication	Written skills will be needed to complete examination and coursework.
Improving own Learning and Performance	See 2 above .
Team work	No.
Information Technology	The whole module concerns this area.
Application of Number	No.
Personal Development and Career planning	Module looks at quite `new¿ areas of computing ¿ may lead to new options in career choice
Subject Specific Skills	Yes. See module title and content.

Reading Lists

Books
** Recommended Text
Ben Shneiderman (1998) Designing the User Interface 3rd Ed.. Addison Wesley ISBN 0201694972
** Consult For Futher Information
Jenny Preece (ed) (1992) A Guide to Usability: Human Factors in Computing Addison-Wesley ISBN 0-201-62768-X
Donald A. Norman (1988) The Psychology of Everyday Things Harper Collins ISBN 0465067093
William M. Newman and Michael G. Lamming (1995) Interactive System Design Addison Wesley ISBN 0-201-63162-8

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 5