Module Descriptors
HUMAN COMPUTER INTERACTION & USABILITY
XCOM51116
Key Facts
Digital, Technology, Innovation and Business
Level 5
15 credits
Contact
Leader: Jonathan Westlake
Email: J.C.Westlake@staffs.ac.uk
Hours of Study
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities: 36
Independent Study Hours: 114
Total Learning Hours: 150
Assessment
- ASSIGNMENT weighted at 50%
- EXAMINATION - UNSEEN IN EXAMINATION CONDITIONS weighted at 50%
Module Details
Module Texts
Smith-Atakan, S "Human-Computer Interaction", Thompson, 2006, ISBN-13: 978-184480454-2, ISBN-10: 1-84480-454-2
Dix, Finlay, Abowd & Beale "Human-Computer Interaction", 3rd edition, Prentice Hall, 1998, ISBN; 013046109-1
Hackos J T and Redish J C "User and Task Analysis for Interface Design", Wiley & Sons, 1998, ISBN: 047117831-4
Mayhew, D "The Usability Engineering Lifecycle", Academic Press, 1999, ISBN: 155860561-4
Preece, Rogers, Sharp "Interaction Design, Beyond Human-Computer Interaction", Wiley & Sons, 2002, ISBN: 047149278-7
Shneiderman B "Designing the User Interface, Strategies for Effective Human-Computer Interaction", 3e, Addison-Wesley 199, ISBN: 020169497-2
Dix, Finlay, Abowd & Beale "Human-Computer Interaction", 3rd edition, Prentice Hall, 1998, ISBN; 013046109-1
Hackos J T and Redish J C "User and Task Analysis for Interface Design", Wiley & Sons, 1998, ISBN: 047117831-4
Mayhew, D "The Usability Engineering Lifecycle", Academic Press, 1999, ISBN: 155860561-4
Preece, Rogers, Sharp "Interaction Design, Beyond Human-Computer Interaction", Wiley & Sons, 2002, ISBN: 047149278-7
Shneiderman B "Designing the User Interface, Strategies for Effective Human-Computer Interaction", 3e, Addison-Wesley 199, ISBN: 020169497-2
Module Additional Assessment Details
ASSIGNMENT weighted at 50%. (Learning outcomes 2 and 3)
EXAMINATION weighted at 50%. (Learning outcomes 1, 2 and 4 ), Duration 2 hours
EXAMINATION weighted at 50%. (Learning outcomes 1, 2 and 4 ), Duration 2 hours
Module Indicative Content
Users - cognitive and major perceptual faculties - memory, vision, hearing
Users - huan factors/ergonomics, Health & Safety, stress
Users - population & cultural difference, including disability, age related change, NVC
Techniques - Task analysis, Usability Engineering & specification, Usability Analysis, Ethnography, contextual enquiry, Prototyping, Approaches fo Evaluation
Interaction Design - contextual design, design teams, International Standards, HCI principles, interaction modes and issues of dialogue design, feedback, error handling, use of metaphor etc.
Users - huan factors/ergonomics, Health & Safety, stress
Users - population & cultural difference, including disability, age related change, NVC
Techniques - Task analysis, Usability Engineering & specification, Usability Analysis, Ethnography, contextual enquiry, Prototyping, Approaches fo Evaluation
Interaction Design - contextual design, design teams, International Standards, HCI principles, interaction modes and issues of dialogue design, feedback, error handling, use of metaphor etc.
Module Learning Strategies
This module will be delivered through a combination of formal lectures and practical tutorials. 2 hours of lectures, 1 hour tutorial per week.
Emphasis in the lectures will be placed on presenting overviews of key issues. Tutorials will centre predominantly around actual application of common techniques e.g. user workstation risk assessment, usability evaluation of applications, usability specification, prototyping etc.
A practical assignment will require students to work together in small teams to produce a prototype system that includes detailed user and task analysis, a design with supporting usability specification, and evidence of usability evaluation and analysis.
It is expected that students supplement and extend the lecture materials and their tutorial experiences by a variety of means, typically involving further reading, use of a Usability laboratory etc.
The examination will be structured in such a way as to give candidates the opportunity to provide individual evidence of what they have done to develop their knowledge and understanding beyond the formal class content.
(1:n)2 (1:20)
Emphasis in the lectures will be placed on presenting overviews of key issues. Tutorials will centre predominantly around actual application of common techniques e.g. user workstation risk assessment, usability evaluation of applications, usability specification, prototyping etc.
A practical assignment will require students to work together in small teams to produce a prototype system that includes detailed user and task analysis, a design with supporting usability specification, and evidence of usability evaluation and analysis.
It is expected that students supplement and extend the lecture materials and their tutorial experiences by a variety of means, typically involving further reading, use of a Usability laboratory etc.
The examination will be structured in such a way as to give candidates the opportunity to provide individual evidence of what they have done to develop their knowledge and understanding beyond the formal class content.
(1:n)2 (1:20)
Module Resources
A personal computer or similar.
Module Special Admissions Requirements
Disqualified combination with CE00828-2 Interface Design and Interactions.