Teaching

Course Content

Techniques for fieldwork, construction of scenarios, prototypes and user-cooperation in connection with analysis, design and evaluation. Working methods for planning of process and product. Conducting the early parts of a project emphasising iteration and user involvement. Reflection on process and product. Different types of project and process models and concepts for understanding the models.

Objectives of the course

After the course the participants will have a foundation for understanding systems development, especially experimental systems development with user involvement, and practical experience with a number of techniques and methods for experimental systems development. After the course the participants will have practical experience with conducting an experimental project with user participation and have a foundation for understanding different types of system development processes.

The working method of the course will also train the participants ability to seek information on their own, to plan and conduct projects, to convey and communicate academic issues and to read and understand scientific papers.

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the participants should be able to:

• describe and use techniques for construction of scenarios, construction and evaluation of prototypes and other things in projects with a high degree of user-cooperation,
• formulate and analyse a project with a high degree of user involvement,
• plan, conduct and evaluate the early stages of a system development project with user involvement,
• analyze (parts of) an organization for the purpose of development of IT-support,
• discuss and put into perspective the chosen solutions, problems that occur on the way, and the chosen strategy as a whole

Course Content

Lectures and practical work are organised in blocks of 2-3 weeks, each with a coursework assignment. The topics include:

• Why is HCI important; human-centred design; modern UIs and their historical context
• Human information processing; memory and attention; vision and perception; motor abilities; models of human performance
• Mental models, conceptual models, metaphors; types of error; design principles and guidelines
• Input and output; pointing devices; direct manipulation; established and emerging interaction styles
• Usability evaluation; types of studies and types of usability measurement; collection, analysis and presentation of data

Objectives of the course

The course aims to introduce students to the fundamentals of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). The objective is for students to attain a sound understanding of HCI concerns, that is of relevance to development of any form of interactive system. This includes an understanding of human abilities and characteristics; of design principles and guidelines; and of interaction styles and input/output devices. Students will learn how usability can be measured, and practice analysis, design, implementation and evaluation of user interfaces.

Learning outcomes and competences

At the end of the course, the participants will be able to:

• Outline what the field of Human–Computer Interaction (HCI) is concerned with.
• Describe characteristics of human cognition and perception, and relate them to design principles for interactive systems.
• Analyse user interfaces and motivate user interface designs using HCI models and theories.
• Apply HCI principles and guidelines in design and implementation of user interfaces.
• Describe, select and apply appropriate methods for evaluation of usability and user experience.