Administrivia

Introduction
This course will cover the design, prototyping, and evaluation of user interfaces for computing devices, often called Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). HCI covers many topics, including:

  • Design (e.g., user-centered design, prototyping, and design principles and rules)
  • Implementation (e.g., input and output devices, interaction styles, and common interface paradigms)
  • Evaluation (e.g., conducting user studies and experiments)

Course Objectives
The goal of the course is for students to learn how to design, prototype, and evaluate user interfaces using a variety of methods. Students should come away with an understanding of:

  • how to study user tasks in context
  • prototyping and testing initial versions of user interfaces
  • the importance of iterative design in producing usable software
  • the cognitive and perceptual constraints that affect interface design
  • techniques for evaluating the usability of an interface
  • how to work together on a team project
  • how to communicate the results of a design process, both in oral and written form

Instructors

Professor: Tapan Parikh, 303B South Hall
Office Hours: Thursdays 1-3 (please email me if you plan to attend)

TA: Eun Kyoung Choe
Office Hours: By Appointment

Meetings
Class meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30-5:00 PM in 205 South Hall.

Grading
Grades will be determined primarily by a student's performance on homework assignments, a group project and in-class participation. Individual assignments should be done independently. It is fine to discuss the general techniques and methods required, but you must do your own work in solving the problems and writing up the solutions. The group project will be a core component of the class, and as such will carry a significant weighting in the course grade. The class will not be graded on a curve. While the final grade assignment is subject to the instructors' discretion, the following is a rough breakdown of the weight given to the various components in the course.

  • Class Participation: 20%
  • Observation: 10%
  • Lo-Fi Prototype: 5%
  • Final Project Proposal: 5%
  • Interactive Prototype 1: 5%
  • Heuristic Evaluation: 5%
  • Interactive Prototype 2: 5%
  • Experiment Design: 5%
  • Final Demonstration: 10%
  • Final Presentation: 10%
  • Final Report: 20%

Late Policy
Homework is due at the start of class. We will accept late individual homework assignments, but the grades will be reduced by one letter grade (if submitted within one week). There will be no allowance for late group presentations or assignments.

Readings
Readings will be posted to the course schedule at least one week in advance of the class. Most of them will be provided online with restricted access. In addition, the following books will be available at the bookstore:

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