General Information
- University: University of Kurdistan - Hawler
- Department: Computer Engineering Dept.
- My Status: Assistant Lecturer
- Level: BSc
- Year: 2019
Course Description
This course provides a comprehensive introduction to Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), focusing on the design, evaluation, and implementation of interactive computing systems for human use. Students will learn the fundamental principles of user interface design, usability engineering, and human factors in computing.
The curriculum covers both theoretical foundations and practical applications of HCI, including user research methods, interface design principles, interaction techniques, and evaluation methodologies. Students will gain hands-on experience in designing and evaluating user interfaces for various platforms and applications.
Through projects and case studies, students will develop the skills necessary to create user-centered designs that are both functional and accessible, preparing them for careers in user experience design, software development, and human-computer interaction research.
Prerequisites
- Programming Fundamentals
- Basic psychology and cognitive science concepts
- Understanding of software development processes
- Visual design principles (recommended)
- Statistics and research methods (recommended)
Course Objectives
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Understand fundamental HCI principles and human factors in computing.
- Apply user-centered design methodologies and usability engineering practices.
- Design and evaluate user interfaces for various platforms and applications.
- Conduct user research and usability testing effectively.
- Implement accessibility and universal design principles.
- Analyze and improve interface usability through iterative design processes.
- Understand the societal and individual impact of user interface design.
Course Outline
Week 1: Introduction to Human-Computer Interaction
- HCI fundamentals and interdisciplinary nature
- Usability principles and guidelines
- Human factors in computing systems
- HCI design principles and theories
- Historical development of HCI
- Lab: Setting up HCI development environment
Week 2: Human Aspects of HCI
- Human information processing and cognition
- Perception and attention in interface design
- Memory and learning in user interfaces
- Motor skills and interaction design
- Individual differences and accessibility
- Lab: User research and cognitive analysis
Week 3: Computer Aspects of HCI
- Input and output devices and technologies
- Interaction styles and paradigms
- Display technologies and visualization
- Multimodal interaction systems
- Emerging interaction technologies
- Lab: Input/output device analysis and testing
Week 4: Development Processes and Design Methodologies
- User-centered design process
- Design thinking and creative problem solving
- Organizational design for usability
- Development methodologies and frameworks
- Design process management and iteration
- Lab: Design methodology application
Week 5: User Research and Requirements Analysis
- User research methods and techniques
- Requirements gathering and analysis
- User personas and scenarios
- Task analysis and workflow modeling
- Contextual inquiry and ethnographic methods
- Lab: User research and requirements gathering
Week 6: Interface Design Principles
- Visual design principles and guidelines
- Information architecture and organization
- Navigation design and information hierarchy
- Consistency and standards in interface design
- Design patterns and best practices
- Lab: Interface design and prototyping
Week 7: Midterm Exam and Review
- Midterm Exam: Covers weeks 1-6 material
- Review of HCI fundamentals and design principles
- Design evaluation practice
- Lab: Exam review and design critique
Week 8: Interaction Styles and Techniques
- Direct manipulation and virtual environments
- Menu selection and form design
- Command languages and natural language interfaces
- Gesture-based and touch interfaces
- Voice and multimodal interaction
- Lab: Interaction technique implementation
Week 9: Evaluation and Usability Testing
- Expert review methods and heuristics
- Usability testing methodologies
- Survey instruments and user feedback
- Acceptance testing and performance metrics
- Iterative evaluation and improvement
- Lab: Usability testing and evaluation
Week 10: Collaboration and Social Interfaces
- Computer-supported cooperative work (CSCW)
- Asynchronous and synchronous collaboration
- Social media interfaces and participation
- Groupware and collaborative systems
- Social computing and online communities
- Lab: Collaborative interface design
Week 11: Quality of Service and Performance
- Response time models and user expectations
- System performance and user productivity
- Error handling and recovery design
- Reliability and availability in interfaces
- Performance optimization strategies
- Lab: Performance analysis and optimization
Week 12: Information Search and Visualization
- Information retrieval and search interfaces
- Data visualization principles and techniques
- Advanced filtering and search capabilities
- Multimedia document search and retrieval
- Information architecture and organization
- Lab: Information visualization and search design
Week 13: Accessibility and Universal Design
- Universal design principles and guidelines
- Accessibility standards and compliance
- Assistive technologies and adaptive interfaces
- Inclusive design for diverse user populations
- Legal and ethical considerations in HCI
- Lab: Accessibility testing and inclusive design
Week 14: Final Exam Preparation and Review
- Comprehensive review of all course material
- Practice problems and sample questions
- Final Exam: Theoretical component
- Lab: Final exam practice and preparation
Week 15: Final Project and Course Wrap-up
- Final Exam: Practical HCI project
- Course evaluation and feedback
- Future learning paths and advanced topics
- Lab: Final project presentation and evaluation
Textbooks
- [Recommended] “Human-Computer Interaction” by Alan Dix, Janet Finlay, Gregory Abowd, and Russell Beale
- [Optional] “The Design of Everyday Things” by Don Norman
Assessment
- Interface Design Projects (30%)
- Usability Evaluation Studies (25%)
- User Research Reports (20%)
- Midterm Exam (15%)
- Final Exam (10%)