Engineering Tutorials

CSE 442-E Human Computer Interaction

Class Work: 50
Exam: 100

Unit 1: Introductions & overview of HCI.:

§ History of computer user interfaces, HCI – history and intellectual root

Human information processing limitations, human decision making.

Human cognitive and sensory limits

Human memory

Human problem solving

Skill acquisition

Users’ conceptual models (mental models)
Decision making

Unit 2: Computer systems

and user interfaces, human-system interaction:

• Input and output devices, Mechanics of particular devices, Speech input, sound and speech output, Computer architecture, Performance characteristics of humans and systems, Color issues, Computer graphics , Color representation, color maps, color range of devices

Unit 3: Interaction models and metaphors:

• Use of abstract metaphors for describing interface behavior, Use of metaphors to support user understanding, Dialog input and output techniques and purposes , Screen layout issues, Dialog interaction: types and techniques, navigation and orientation, multimedia and non-graphical dialogues, Dialog issues: response time, control, standards, look and feel , Layers model of architecture of design and windowing systems, Windows manager models, e.g., X, Macintosh, MS Windows, Hypermedia and WWW

Unit 4: Principles guiding well-designed human-system interaction:

• Paradigms for interaction, Principles to support usability, Accounting for users with disabilities

Unit 5: The design process – overview:

• The typical software development lifecycle (idealized vs. actual), User-centered design overview, “Three pillars of design”, Usability engineering overview, Reconciling UCD and usability testing

Unit 6: The design process – task and user needs analysis:

• Task analysis definition, Techniques for task analysis, Sources of information

Unit 7: The design process – making use of task and user data for system design.

• Use cases, scenarios, Structuring the information, Information architecture, User and process flows, Wireframes, Mockups, comps, Other methods of conveying structure and function

Unit 8: Designing for universal access:

• What is accessibility? What is accessible software, Examples of accessibility adaptations, What’s driving software accessibility, Implications for software organizations

Unit 9: Speech user interfaces:

• Attributes of speech user interfaces, Evaluating speech user interface quality

Unit 10: HCI in mission-critical and high-risk environments:

• Safety implications of human-computer interaction, Effects of automation, Addressing the effects

Text books:

§ Hackos, J.T. & Redish, J.C. (1998). User and task analysis for interface design. John New York: Wiley & Sons.

§ Norman, D. (1988). The design of everyday things. New York: Basic Books.

Reference Books:

· Designing the User Interface: Strategy for Effective Human Computer Interaction, 3^rd edition, Bel Shneiderman, Perason Edu. Publ. 2000

· Human Computer Interaction    Dix, A et al. Prentice Hall 1993

· Graphical User Interface Design and Evaluation    Redmond-Pyle, D. & Moore, A.    Prentice Hall 1995 

· The Art of Human-Computer Interface Design    Laurel, B    Addison-Wesley 1990

Note: Eight questions will be set in all by the examiners taking at least one question from each unit. Students will be required to attempt five questions in all.

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