I. Course Number and Credit:      

HCI 500 3 S.H.

II. Course Title:     

Human Computer Interface

III. Course Description:

Human Computer Interface (HCI) is an interdisciplinary course that explores the design of computer interfaces that are based on the abilities, limitations, and goals of the users. Through the review of theories and current research in HCI students will be introduced to the principles underlying usable interface design.

IV. Prerequisites: Undergraduate degree in Psychology or Computer Science or permission of the instructor.

V. Justification for Course:

This course will serve as the primary introduction to human computer interaction for the Masters degree program in HCI. This course along with the HCI Methods I course and the Software Design course will ensure that students with varied backgrounds will have the same understanding of the fundamentals of HCI design and analysis.

VI. Course Objectives:

Students enrolled in Human Computer Interface will:

     A. Understand the concept of usability and how it relates to computer interface design

     B. Develop understanding of the psychological processes underlying computer interface design

     C. Be knowledgeable of the key aspects of graphical user interfaces and how they related to the abilities of the users.

     D. Develop an understanding of how culture and experience influences the usability of computer products.

     E. Be able to assess the specific needs of the disabled and develop user interfaces to accommodate those needs.

     F. Understand how the design of user interfaces fits in with the overall product design process

     G. Develop the skills to ensure that usability is a key component of product design.

VII.

     A. Course Overview:

          1. Introduction to Human Computer Interface Design. This topic introduces the students to the basic issues of designing usable computer interfaces, the process of designing those interfaces, and an overview of the background necessary to develop a usable interface.

     B. Psychology and HCI

          1. Vision

          The basic capabilities of the visual system as they relate to HCI will be discussed. This will include visual acuity, color perception, dark adaptation as well as the perceptual process of organization and pattern recognition.

          2. Cognitive Processes

          This section will focus on the limitations in memory and decision-making and the implications they have on HCI design. The effect of response time and feedback on performance will be covered in this section.

          3. Motor Control

          Much of the interaction with computers is through motor activities, moving a mouse or pressing on a keyboard. This section will cover the basics of biomechanics including body size, movement and muscle strength. Fitt’s Law will be covered in detail.

     B. Interacting With Computers

          1. Command Language

          The study of command language interface provides an overview language issues related to HCI. Included in this section will be a discussion of command organization, names and abbreviations, and the use of symbols.

           2. Menus

           The discussion of menus follows from the introduction to HCI covered in the section on command language. Topics covered in this section include semantic organization, sequence, types of menus, selection alternatives, response time, and screen design.

           3. Forms

           This section on forms provides a simple introduction to screen layout design. Topics covered in this section will include: sequencing information, perceptual organization, error correction, and aesthetics.

          4. Graphical User Interfaces (GUI)

          With the introduction of the Macintosh operating system and the dominance of Windows, graphical user interfaces have become the dominant means of computer interaction. As such, this form of HCI will be covered in great detail. The topics covered will include: concept of direct manipulation, visual language,  methods of direct manipulation, visual display design, and virtual reality.

           5. Interaction Devices

           The devices used to present information from computers and input information into the computers will be discussed. These devices include keyboards, pointing devices, specialized controls, speech recognition, and displays.

           6. Natural Language

          The ability to interact with computers using natural language (as depicted in Star Trek) has been one of the biggest promises and disappointments. The issues related to natural language processing will be discussed in this section.

     C. Designing User Interfaces

          1. Design Process

          The process and methodologies of designing user interfaces will be covered in this section. Foremost will be a detailed discussion of user-centered design, ensuring the user of the product has essential input into the design process. An overview of the design methodologies including task analysis, focus groups and design tools will be discussed.

         2. Evaluation

         The methodologies of evaluating user interface designs will be covered in this section. The distinction between the evaluation methodologies that are performed during the design process and those conducted after the design is completed will be emphasized.

VIII. Methods of Instruction:

The use of collaborative exercises will comprise the majority of the instructional methodology. Lectures and demonstrations will also be employed.

IX. Course Requirements:

     A. Students will be given exercise that will permit them to employ the elements of user interface design discussed in class.

     B. Presentation. Students will be require to present the material related to one of the course topics.

     C. A written version of their presentation will also be required.

     D. Midterm and final exams.

     E. Class participation.

X. Means of Evaluation:

Class presentations, group projects, term paper, exams and participation.

XI. Resources:

The participating departments have the faculty resources and expertise to offer this course. Instructional Technology computer laboratories as well as those in Computer Science, Psychology and Graphic Design will support the computational requirements. The current library holdings in conjunction with access to intra-library loan will be sufficient for the variety of courses offered

XII. Bibliography:

Apple Computer, Inc. (1992). Macintosh Human Interface Guidelines. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley Publishing Co., 1992 Alliance for Technology Access (2000). Computer and Web Resources for People With Disabilities: A Guide to Exploring Today's Assistive Technology. Hunter House. Baecker R., Grudin, J., Buxton, W. A. S., & Greenberg, S. (Eds.) (1994) Readings in Human-Computer Interaction: Toward the Year 2000. Morgan Kaufmann Publishers John M. Carroll (2000). Making Use: Scenario-Based Design of Human-Computer Interactions. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. Cassell, J., Sullivan, J., Prevost, S. & Churchill, E. (Eds.) (2000) Embodied Conversational Agents. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. Hix, D. and Hartson, H. R. (1993) Developing User Interfaces: Ensuring UsabilityThrough Product and Process. New York: Wiley. Laurel, B. (Ed.) (1990). The Art of Human-Computer Interface Design. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley Publishing Co., Marcus, A. (192). Graphic Design for Electronic Documents and User Interfaces. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley Publishing Co. Mayhew, D. J. (1992). Principles and Guidelines in Software User Interface Design. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1992.