CM2101: Human Computer Interaction
| School | Cardiff School of Computer Science and Informatics |
| Department Code | COMSC |
| Module Code | CM2101 |
| External Subject Code | 100366 |
| Number of Credits | 10 |
| Level | L5 |
| Language of Delivery | English |
| Module Leader | Dr Alia Abdelmoty |
| Semester | Spring Semester |
| Academic Year | 2019/0 |
Outline Description of Module
This module introduces the principles and concepts of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) to enable the design of systems that effectively meet human needs. The course covers aspects of interaction design and human factors and offers theoretical grounding and practical skills for analysing, designing and evaluating the usability of interactive software systems.
On completion of the module a student should be able to
1. Appreciate the importance and context of HCI and human factors in the software development lifecycle.
2. Recognise the importance of identifying and involving users in the design of interactive systems.
3. Demonstrate knowledge of the perceptual and cognitive demands of users.
4. Apply task analysis and dialogue design methods to facilitate effective interaction design and identify usability problems.
5. Design and evaluate medium fidelity user interface prototypes.
6. Select and apply suitable usability evaluation methodologies for the evaluation of interactive software systems
7. Demonstrate awareness of design patterns for effective user interface design.
How the module will be delivered
The module will be delivered through a combination of lectures, supervised lab sessions, example classes and tutorials as appropriate.
Skills that will be practised and developed
Please see Learning Outcomes.
How the module will be assessed
During this module, the students will demonstrate their knowledge and practical skills by designing and prototyping a user interface to an application and will apply a range of evaluation methods taught in the lecture.
There will be three points of assessment in the module:
(1) There will be a group user interface design and prototyping exercise that will assess the understanding of interface design methods and practical skills in applying those methods for building effective interfaces. (LO5).
(2) There will be a group interface evaluation exercise that will assess the ability to apply usability evaluation methods on interactive software systems. (LO6).
(3) There will be a 2-hour written exam at the end of the semester. The exam will test the student's knowledge and understanding of the principles taught in lectures. (LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO7)
All three assessments will allow the student to demonstrate their knowledge and practical skills and to apply the principles taught in lectures.
Students will be provided with reassessment opportunities in line with University regulations.
Assessment Breakdown
| Type | % | Title | Duration(hrs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exam - Spring Semester | 50 | Human Computer Interaction | 3 |
| Written Assessment | 35 | Interface Prototyping Exercise | N/A |
| Written Assessment | 15 | Usability Evaluation Exercise | N/A |
Syllabus content
Relevance and context of HCI
Interaction models and basics of human variance
Usability engineering and user-centred design
User profiles and personas
Cognitive and task modelling
Dialogue analysis and design
Prototyping interfaces
Usability guidelines and principles
Usability evaluation techniques and universal design
Interface design patterns
Human Factors considerations in visual display design
Essential Reading and Resource List
Please see Background Reading List for an indicative list.
Background Reading and Resource List
Interaction Design: Beyond Human-Computer Interaction, Preece, Rogers and Sharp, Wiley, 2015
Human-Computer Interaction (third edition), A. Dix et al., Prentice-Hall 2004
Designing Interfaces, Tidwell, O’Reilly, 2010
Designing Mobile Interfaces, Hoober and Berkman, O’Reilly, 2012