Module Descriptors
HUMAN-COMPUTER INTERACTION AND GROUPWARE
XCOM71077
Key Facts
Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Sciences
Level 7
15 credits
Hours of Study
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities: 48
Independent Study Hours: 102
Total Learning Hours: 150
Assessment
- EXAMINATION - UNSEEN IN EXAMINATION CONDITIONS weighted at 60%
- COURSEWORK weighted at 40%
Module Details
Module Additional Assessment Details
Exam - 60% (Learning outcomes 4 and 5)
Coursework - 40% (Learning outcomes 1,2 and 3)
Your ability to critically evaluate the usability of two Web sites, based on sound interface principles. All work will be group-based. It is important that groups follow sound interface design principles. In addition, you will have the opportunity to investigate, in depth, a single topic within the discipline, collating the results of their research, developing a critique, proposing lines of research development and presenting their findings in a short paper.
Coursework - 40% (Learning outcomes 1,2 and 3)
Your ability to critically evaluate the usability of two Web sites, based on sound interface principles. All work will be group-based. It is important that groups follow sound interface design principles. In addition, you will have the opportunity to investigate, in depth, a single topic within the discipline, collating the results of their research, developing a critique, proposing lines of research development and presenting their findings in a short paper.
Module Indicative Content
Components of HCI
Users, tasks, hardware and software, environments. Interactions between components.
Components of Groupware/CSCW
Methods, systems, evaluation.
Hardware and software for HCI/CSCW
Survey of currently available hardware and its impact on HCI/CSCW design. Software and its support for HCI/CSCW prototyping and construction.
Tasks
Task analysis techniques as applied to HCI problems. Ideas of task structure.
Users
User populations and sub-populations. User characteristics and user profiling. Significant cognitive abilities such as perception, memory and logical reasoning. Influence of personality factors. Group interactions and group work processes.
Environments
Ergonomics and its relevance to HCI. Aspects of the physical environment that influence user and work group performance.
Users, tasks, hardware and software, environments. Interactions between components.
Components of Groupware/CSCW
Methods, systems, evaluation.
Hardware and software for HCI/CSCW
Survey of currently available hardware and its impact on HCI/CSCW design. Software and its support for HCI/CSCW prototyping and construction.
Tasks
Task analysis techniques as applied to HCI problems. Ideas of task structure.
Users
User populations and sub-populations. User characteristics and user profiling. Significant cognitive abilities such as perception, memory and logical reasoning. Influence of personality factors. Group interactions and group work processes.
Environments
Ergonomics and its relevance to HCI. Aspects of the physical environment that influence user and work group performance.
Module Learning Strategies
The learning strategy used in this module is based on the concept of constructivism. Students are encouraged to work in groups and through the process of solving problems, based on case studies, they will acquire problem-solving, collaborative and critical thinking skills. Active participation by students is vital in this approach.
(1:n)2 (1:20)
(1:n)2 (1:20)
Module Resources
Lecture and tutorial handouts, commercially relevant interface development environment (e.g. Visual Basic).
Relevant interface Groupware environment. ( e.g. Lotus Notes).
PCs with web browser and Office suite applications.
Space on a local-access only Web server (i.e. domain restricted/intranet).
Relevant interface Groupware environment. ( e.g. Lotus Notes).
PCs with web browser and Office suite applications.
Space on a local-access only Web server (i.e. domain restricted/intranet).
Module Special Admissions Requirements
None
Module Texts
Essential Reading
Human Computer Interaction: Prentice-Hall, 1993, ISBN 0-13-458266-7, Dix A., Finlay J., Abowd G, and Beal R.
Usability engineering: 1993 AP Professional, Nielsen Jakob.
Human Computer Interaction: Addison-Wesley, 1994, ISBN 0-201-62769-8, Preece J, Rogers Y, Sharp H, Banyon D, Holland S, Carey T.
Elements of User Interface Design: John Wiley & Son, ISBN 0-471-16267-7, Mandel T.
Others
Human Computer Interaction: Psychology, Task Analysis and Software Engineering, McGraw-Hill, 1992, Johnson P.
A Graphical User Interface Design and Evaluation, Prentice-Hall, 1995, ISBN 0-13-315193-X, Redman-Pyle D, Moore A.
Human-Computer Interaction for Software Designers, International Thomson Computer Press, 1996, ISBN1-850-32177-9, Macaulay L.
Human Computer Interaction: Prentice-Hall, 1993, ISBN 0-13-458266-7, Dix A., Finlay J., Abowd G, and Beal R.
Usability engineering: 1993 AP Professional, Nielsen Jakob.
Human Computer Interaction: Addison-Wesley, 1994, ISBN 0-201-62769-8, Preece J, Rogers Y, Sharp H, Banyon D, Holland S, Carey T.
Elements of User Interface Design: John Wiley & Son, ISBN 0-471-16267-7, Mandel T.
Others
Human Computer Interaction: Psychology, Task Analysis and Software Engineering, McGraw-Hill, 1992, Johnson P.
A Graphical User Interface Design and Evaluation, Prentice-Hall, 1995, ISBN 0-13-315193-X, Redman-Pyle D, Moore A.
Human-Computer Interaction for Software Designers, International Thomson Computer Press, 1996, ISBN1-850-32177-9, Macaulay L.