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Masters Programme in Advanced Computer Science

Advanced Interactive Systems Design Module

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Masters programme information

Week Commencing 29th October 2007
Most electronic devices and computer systems are eventually used by humans, but this is often far from evident in their actual design!

This course aims to give the knowledge and instill the attitudes that will enable students to design systems for real people.

The course will especially focus on network applications and novel devices.

Course Objectives

At the end of the course students will:
  • have an appreciation of the range of issues involved in good design of usable systems including web and mobile applications
  • be able to use a range of modelling and analysis methods
  • understand spacial software architectural issues for user interfaces, especially for networked systems
  • have experience of design techniques for innovative interfaces

Effective usability is essential for the efficiency of industrial applications and the appeal of consumer products. The understanding and skills obtained in this course will enable the student both to produce better designs themselves and to be more able to work with usability specialists resulting in systems that can be used more easily and sold more profitably.

Syllabus

  • Overview of human-computer interaction and role of contributing disciplines including psychology, sociology, etc.
  • Some appropriate examples of detailed knowledge from contributing areas - e.g. 3D vision
  • User centred design focus and related design issues (e.g. user experience in consumer products)
  • Techniques for managing and designing interactions: e.g. scenarios, task analysis, dialogue modelling
  • Special issues for networked systems: timing issues, distributed interface architectures, impact of QoS on user experience, etc.
  • Technologies: ubiquitous computing, wearable computing, augmented reality, bio-sensing, visualisation, etc.
  • Small group design project
  • Course notes and detailed syllabus

Assessment

Assessment is by coursework only (100%).
50% group mini-design project and 50% individual critical report.


Recommended Reading

Main Course Text:
  • Human-Computer Interaction third edition, A. Dix, J. Finlay, G. Abowd and R. Beale. Prentice Hall, 2004.
    http://www.hcibook.com/e3/
Students need to have access to this during the course, but could get away with second edition.

Other Broad Textbooks:
  • Interaction Design, J. Preece, Y. Rogers and H. Sharp. Wiley, 2002
  • Designing the User Interface: Strategies for Effective Human-Computer Interaction, Fourth Edition. Ben Shneiderman. Adison Wesley, 2004.

Edited Collections (books mainly to look at in the library) :
  • Human-Computer Interaction Handbook, J. Jacko and A. Sears. Lawrence Erlbaum, 2003.
  • HCI Models, Theories, and Frameworks: Toward an Interdisciplinary Science, J. Carroll. Morgan Kaufmann.
  • Funology: From Usability to Enjoyment, M. Blythe, A. Monk and P. Wright. Kluwer, 2003.
  • The Handbook of Task Analysis for Human-Computer Interaction, D. Diaper & N. Stanton (eds.). Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 2003.

2007/08 Course Information

Date: Week commencing 29th October 2007
Lecturers: Prof. Alan Dix, and Dr. Keith Cheverst

Available as an 1 week intensive short course. Please see the short courses information page.


The Lecturers

Alan Dix has worked in human-computer interaction research since the mid 1980's and he is author of one of the main textbooks in the area. He has also been a founder director of two Internet startup companies focused on intelligent agent technology and web community building. His nearly two hundred publications have included his popular ACM SIGCHI Bulletin education column, five books, many journal articles, conference keynotes, and invited contributions to several recent handbooks in HCI; they cover topics from the application of formal techniques in interface design, through understanding the physical workplace, to methods for enhancing innovation and creativity.