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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2011/2012
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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Informatics : Informatics

Undergraduate Course: Human-Computer Interaction (Level 10) (INFR10018)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Informatics CollegeCollege of Science and Engineering
Course typeStandard AvailabilityAvailable to all students
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) Credits10
Home subject areaInformatics Other subject areaNone
Course website http://www.inf.ed.ac.uk/teaching/courses/hci Taught in Gaelic?No
Course descriptionThe design and implementation of efficient, effective and user friendly computing systems depends upon understanding both the technology and its users. Only then can designers be confident that computer systems will be properly matched to the skills, knowledge and needs of their users. The study of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) seeks to combine perspectives and methods of enquiry drawn from disciplines such as Psychology and Sociology with the tools, techniques and technologies of Computer Science to create an approach to design which is both relevant and practical.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Students MUST NOT also be taking Human-Computer Interaction (Level 11) (INFR11017)
Other requirements Successful completion of Year 3 of an Informatics Single or Combined Honours Degree, or equivalent by permission of the School. No specific pre-requisite knowledge is required, but a willingness to pursue an inter-disciplinary approach is essential.
Additional Costs None
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNone
Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus?Yes
Course Delivery Information
Delivery period: 2011/12 Semester 1, Available to all students (SV1) WebCT enabled:  No Quota:  None
Location Activity Description Weeks Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
CentralLecture1-11 11:10 - 12:00
CentralLecture1-11 11:10 - 12:00
First Class Week 1, Monday, 11:10 - 12:00, Zone: Central. Bristo Sq 7, LT3
Exam Information
Exam Diet Paper Name Hours:Minutes
Main Exam Diet S2 (April/May)2:00
Delivery period: 2011/12 Semester 1, Part-year visiting students only (VV1) WebCT enabled:  No Quota:  None
Location Activity Description Weeks Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
CentralLecture1-11 11:10 - 12:00
CentralLecture1-11 11:10 - 12:00
First Class Week 1, Monday, 11:10 - 12:00, Zone: Central. Bristo Sq 7, LT3
Exam Information
Exam Diet Paper Name Hours:Minutes
Main Exam Diet S1 (December)2:00
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
1 - Demonstrate, in writing, knowledge of the issues and problems in HCI.
2 - Demonstrate understanding of human perception and behaviour by diagnosing problems in relations between work and technology.
3 - Use established design principles and methodologies to solve HCI problems.
4 - The ability to devise, plan and execute task analysis and system evaluation studies from an HCI perspective, and present findings in a clear and effective manner.
5 - Acquire confidence in handling different disciplinary perspectives on HCI and the ability to apply them to design problems.
Assessment Information
Written Examination 70
Assessed Assignments 30
Oral Presentations 0

Assessment
A group-based exercise involving the re-design and evaluation of a user interface.

If delivered in semester 1, this course will have an option for semester 1 only visiting undergraduate students, providing assessment prior to the end of the calendar year.
Special Arrangements
None
Additional Information
Academic description Not entered
Syllabus * Background--the development and scope of HCI. Practical goals.
* HCI relevant issues in human perception, memory and thinking processes.
* Approaches to modelling HCI interactions.
* Design methodologies and notations--levels of interface design. Task analysis, grammars, state charts.
* Techniques and technologies--dialogue styles, information presentation.
* The design process--user involvement, iterative design, prototyping. HCI and software engineering.
* Evaluation--methodologies, formative and summative. Performance and learnability. Specific issues in HCI: the internet; agency; novel interfaces; ubiquitous computing.

Relevant QAA Computing Curriculum Sections: Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Information Systems, Systems Analysis and Design
Reading List
Transferable skills Not entered
Reading list * *** Dix, Finlay, Abowd & Beale, Human-Computer Interaction, 3rd edition, Prentice Hall, 1998.
* *** Luff, Hindmarsh and Heath, Workplace Studies, Cambridge University Press, 2000.
* ** Heath and Luff, Technology in Action, Cambridge University Press, 2000.
* ** Suchman, Plans and Situated Action: The Problem of Human-Machine Communication, Cambridge University Press,
* ** Newman and Lamming, Interactive Systems Design, Addison Wesley, 1995.
* ** Monk & Wright, Improving Your Human-Computer Interface, Prentice Hall, 1993.
Study Abroad Not entered
Study Pattern Lectures 20
Tutorials 0
Timetabled Laboratories 0
Non-timetabled assessed assignments 38
Private Study/Other 42
Total 100
KeywordsNot entered
Contacts
Course organiserDr Amos Storkey
Tel: (0131 6)51 1208
Email: A.Storkey@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMiss Kate Weston
Tel: (0131 6)50 2701
Email: Kate.Weston@ed.ac.uk
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© Copyright 2011 The University of Edinburgh - 16 January 2012 6:16 am