Undergraduate Course: Human-Computer Interaction (Level 10) (INFR10018)
Course Outline
| School | School of Informatics |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Course type | Standard |
Availability | Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
Credits | 10 |
| Home subject area | Informatics |
Other subject area | None |
| Course website |
http://www.inf.ed.ac.uk/teaching/courses/hci |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | The 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-requisites | None |
| Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? | Yes |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
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 |
| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
Lectures 20
Tutorials 0
Timetabled Laboratories 0
Non-timetabled assessed assignments 38
Private Study/Other 42
Total 100 |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Mary Cryan
Tel: (0131 6)50 5153
Email: mcryan@inf.ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Kate Farrow
Tel: (0131 6)50 2706
Email: Kate.Farrow@ed.ac.uk |
|
|
University Homepage