Human Computer Interaction
This course will explore the design, implementation, and evaluation of user interfaces. Students will study theoretical methods of interface design and evaluation, including requirements gathering, usability heuristics, user interface inspections, usability studies, information visualization, and prototyping. Case studies of interface successes and failures will augment theory with practical experiences. Students will apply this methodology to assignments in the design, implementation, and evaluation cycle. Students taking this course at the graduate level will have additional readings and assignments.
Prerequisite: CSC 171 or permission of instructor. Programming experience is assumed, and will be required for the projects. Projects will primarily be done in HTML/CSS/Javascript. Introductory primers will be provided, but students without web programming experience may need to spend extra time.
Book
No book.
We will use a variety of articles, book chapters, and online resources on the schedule. Interested students are encouraged to get a copy of the following great books and read more about HCI:
-
Human-Computer Interaction (3rd Edition)
Alan Dix, Janet E. Finlay, Gregory D. Abowd, Russell Beale -
Usability Engineering
Jakob Nielsen
- many of Nielsen's other usability books (Designing Web Usability, Eyetracking Web Usability, etc.) are available for free from Safari Books for free from on campus. You can also find great information, excerpts and reports at useit.com -
The Design of Everyday Things
Donald A. Norman - a classic book on design, not limited to computers or technology. -
Free Online jQuery Book
Many of our assignments will use Javascript with jQuery -- this is a great, free reference for those who want to dive in more deeply.