Spring 2008

Room:YR 201

Time: Tues., 7:00PM-9:40PM

Textbooks:

• Required: Ben Shneiderman and Catherine Plaisant, Designing the User Interface, Fourth Edition 2005 Addison-Wesley, Reading MA.
• Additional Readings as assigned.
• Supplemental:
  • Jeff Johnson. GUI Bloopers, 2.0. 2008. Morgan-Kaufman
  • Helen Sharp, Yvonne, Rogers, and Jennifer Preece. Interaction Design, 2nd Edition. 2007. Wiley.
  • Jeff Raskin. The Humane Interface. 2000, ACM Press.
  • Don Norman. The Design of Everyday Things. 2002. Basic Books.

Note that some of these books are available in earlier editions.

Web Page: http://triton.towson.edu/~hhochhei/classes/fall07/617

Course Description:

Human-designed interfaces to computer systems play a pivotal role in our advanced technological society. From desktop computing systems to cell phones and in-car navigation tools, we are surrounded by interfaces that both dazzle us with their power and frustrate us with their limitations.

The difference lies in the design. Successful interfaces are rooted in deep understanding of human capabilities (including limitations), tasks, and goals, and how technologies can be designed and constructed to support, rather than hinder human aspirations.

This course will consider theories of human-computer interaction, types of interfaces, techniques for designing interfaces, and methods for evaluating sccuess. Topics to be covered include:

• Human cognitive and physical abilities as applied to computer interfaces
• Theories guding interface design and human-computer interaction
• Rules and guidelines for designing successful interfaces
• Approaches for gathering and understanding user needs, goals, and aspirations.
• Methods for evaluating information systems.

Course Organization:

Class sections will consist of lectures, discussions, and in-class acitivites. Participation in all aspects of class is expected and will be considered in the final grade.

Assignments/projects will take several forms. Requirements, due dates, and other details can be found on each of the individual pages:

• Journal Reports: Each week, you will read a recent research article from the HCI literature, prepare a one-page summary, and discuss it in class.
• Tool Test: You will use a software tool to evaluate the usability of an interface, and write a short-paper describing the results of the evaluation and critiquing the tool.
• Usability Project: In groups of 2-3 students, you will design and conduct a usability test of an interface. You will write a report and present your results to the class.
• Research Paper: You will write a research paper on some specific area of HCI research.
• Exams: There will be one take-home midterm exam.

Evaluation:

• Midterm Exam: 20%.
• Research paper: 30%.
• Usability Project: 20%
• Tool Tests: 10%
• Journal Reports 10%
• Class Participation: 10%.

Grading Policy

• 90-100 : A
• 80-89.9: B
• 70-79.9: C
• 60-69.9: D
• below 60: F

Syllabus:

• Introdction to HCI
• Models, Theories, and Guidelines
• Types of interaction: commands, menus, direct manipulation, devices, collaboration
• Design Methods
• Design Processes
• Web Usability
• Accessibility
• Errors, error handling
• Hand-held devices, embedded computing, & other emerging areas.
• Evaluation

Policies:

• Attendance is a component in the grading of this class. I understand that there may be some instances where absences are unavoidable. Absences are considered "excused" - and will not count against you - in event of illness, death, or other unforeseen and documented circumstances. Please note that documentation must be provided in a timely manner - within one week of your return to class.
• Participation is crucial: you will be expected to complete reading assignments and to be prepared to discuss them in class. Attending class, and contributing to discussions, are considered basic requirements of participation. Achieving an above-average participation grade will require additional noteworthy participation. of I will reserve the right to call on students by name.
• I reserve the right to communicate with students in the class via e-mail. Please be sure to regularly check your Towson University email account.
• All homework should be submitted electronically via email on the due date. Assignments should be in my inbox by 4PM on the due date. I will try to respond with email receipts. Late assignments will docked 15% per day of lateness.
• Your work should be easy to read: there are many papers to be graded and we do not have the time to decipher cryptic handwriting. If possible, type your work. Otherwise, please write neatly and clearly. In any case, please explain your answers clearly and succinctly. No credit will be given for answers that we cannot understand.
• The work you turn in must be your own. You can feel free to discuss assignment questions with others, and you may need to work in teams during lab times, but the written assignments that are turned in must be your own work. Cheating in any form - including copying someone else's work or letting your work be copied - is unacceptable at Towson University. Do not turn in work that has been copied from somebody else, do not let your work be copied. Anyone found cheating (on either side, copying or being copied) will receive an F for the course and a letter to the dean will be sent. Any incidents of cheating will be handled through appropriate administrative channels.
• Towson University does not post grades. The department office will not inform you about your grade after a course is completed since you can check your grades online.
• University policy states that students may not repeat a course more than once without prior permission of the Academic Standards Committee.
• Please don't use cell phones, pagers, laptops, etc. in class.