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Why We Are Here: Look at Human Factors That Affect Software Design and Development Central Topic: User Interface Design

This document outlines the goals and topics to be covered in a human-computer interaction (HCI) course. The course aims to make students aware of how human factors affect software design and to teach them to critically evaluate interfaces. Key topics to be discussed are what HCI is, how humans and computers interact during tasks, why usability is important, how to improve interfaces by understanding users, and common mistakes in design. The document describes a group project where students will design and evaluate an interface. It provides details on the project parts and expectations for presentations. Suggested project topics are also listed.

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51 views21 pages

Why We Are Here: Look at Human Factors That Affect Software Design and Development Central Topic: User Interface Design

This document outlines the goals and topics to be covered in a human-computer interaction (HCI) course. The course aims to make students aware of how human factors affect software design and to teach them to critically evaluate interfaces. Key topics to be discussed are what HCI is, how humans and computers interact during tasks, why usability is important, how to improve interfaces by understanding users, and common mistakes in design. The document describes a group project where students will design and evaluate an interface. It provides details on the project parts and expectations for presentations. Suggested project topics are also listed.

Uploaded by

Anonymous 836sAQZpGG
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Why We Are Here

Look at human factors that affect


software design and development

Central Topic: User interface design


Not just a software interface on a desktop
monitor!

Fall 2002

CS 6750

HCI
What is it?
Can you define/describe it?

Fall 2002

CS 6750

HCI
What happens when a human and a
computer get together to perform a task
task - write document, calculate budget, solve
equation, learn about Bosnia, drive home,...

Fall 2002

CS 6750

Why is this important?


1. Computers (in one way or another)
now affect every person in society
Increasing % utilize computers in work

2. Product success may depend on ease


of use, not necessarily power

Fall 2002

CS 6750

Course Aims
1. Consciousness raising
Make you aware of these issues

2. Design critic
Question bad design

Fall 2002

CS 6750

Goals of HCI
Allow users to carry out tasks
Safely
Effectively
Efficiently
Enjoyably
Fall 2002

CS 6750

Usability
Important issue
Combination of
Ease of learning
High speed of user task performance
Low user error rate
Subjective user satisfaction
User retention over time
Fall 2002

CS 6750

Key Historical Event (Personal)


Grad school in 84
John Sculley, Mac

Fall 2002

CS 6750

Moving Forward
How do we improve interfaces?
1. Change attitude of software professional
2. Draw upon fast accumulating body of
knowledge regarding H-C interface design
3. Integrate UI design methods & techniques
into standard software development
methodologies now in place
Fall 2002

CS 6750

Improving Interfaces
Know the User!
Physical abilities
Cognitive abilities
Personality differences
Skill differences
Cultural diversity
Motivation
Special needs
Fall 2002

CS 6750

10

Two Crucial Errors


Assume all users are alike
Assume all users are like the designer

Fall 2002

CS 6750

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Course Overview

Human abilities
Evaluation (without users)
Design
Dialog & interaction
Evaluation (with users)
Special topics
CSCW, InfoVis, Ubicomp, Agents

Fall 2002

CS 6750

12

Group Project
Design and evaluate an interface
0
1
2
3
4

Team formation & topic choice


Understand the problem
Design alternatives
Prototype & evaluation plan
Evaluation

Main 4 parts worth 10% each


Fall 2002

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Details
Part 0 - Topic definition
Identify team & topic, create web notebook

Part 1 - Understanding the problem


Describe tasks, users, environment, social
context
What are implications for design?

Fall 2002

CS 6750

14

Details
Part 2 - Design alternatives
Storyboards, mock-ups for multiple different
designs
Explain decisions

Part 3 - System prototype & eval plan


Semi-working interface functionality
Plan for conducting evaluation
Fall 2002

CS 6750

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Details
Part 4 - Evaluation
Conduct evaluation with example users
Characterize whats working and whats not

Fall 2002

CS 6750

16

Project Teams
4 people
You decide
Diverse is best!
Consider schedules

Cool name
Help getting members on Monday
Fall 2002

CS 6750

17

Presentations
Informal poster session
Feedback on ideas, both class periods
After part 2
Other students and expert gallery

Formal project presentation


Final week of classes
10-15 minute summary
Fall 2002

CS 6750

18

Project Topics
Set of possibilities
Max of 2 teams per topic
First-come, first-served
By next Wednesday
Set up web notebook

Real client
Fall 2002

CS 6750

19

(Old ones)

Topic Ideas

Mobile/handheld (cars, tour guides, etc.)


Wedding planner
GIS
Calendar agent (speech)
Audio / Web sites
Domain that you know well
Browse old projects for more ideas...

Fall 2002

CS 6750

20

What Makes a Good Project

Access to domain experts & users


Real clients
Interesting human issues
Rich domain for design

Fall 2002

CS 6750

21

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