Human-Computer Interaction

Year
1
Academic year
2014-2015
Code
02010475
Subject Area
Computer Science
Language of Instruction
Portuguese
Other Languages of Instruction
English
Mode of Delivery
Face-to-face
Duration
SEMESTRIAL
ECTS Credits
4.0
Type
Compulsory
Level
2nd Cycle Studies - Mestrado

Recommended Prerequisites

Training equivalent to the Licenciatura Degree that enables enrolment in the Master course.

Teaching Methods

The methodology is seminar based, with a combination of theoretical presentation and discussion of models, methods and instruments with practical application exercises in delimited contexts and project activities in a studio environment. The student is required to execute weekly assignments consisting on readings, critical analysis and synthesis in response to questions, and a group project where course techniques will be exercised, to develop communication and work organization capacities, with four sessions of presentation & critique, for feedback.

Learning Outcomes

Through this course students will learn fundamental concepts to understand the interaction between humans and computer-based systems. Students will be expected to:

- understand the role of human factors on the interaction and interface;

- understand and apply prototyping techniques for research of on design proposals;

- develop competence for interaction design for interfaces for specific usage contexts, towards the optimization of the quality of interactive experience and based on contextual and participatory approaches;

- develop capacity to build innovative interfaces coherent and fit for purpose;

- develop competence to evaluate usability and other experience qualities with the use of techniques adequate to project context;

- develop the capacity to build innovative interfaces, coherent with purpose;

- learn how to perform and combine techniques in a systematic and empirical approach to interaction design;

- develop the capacity for autonomous learning in the field of HCI.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1. Brief history of and introduction to HCI

2. Prototyping techniques and the role of prototyping in interaction design; From ideation to experience sketching for evaluating designs; Participatory Design;

3. From cognitive to situated action models of human performance; User and task modeling; Scenario modeling;

4. Knowing users and finding their needs; Contextual Design; Modeling and analyzing interaction contexts; Designing interaction environments;

5. From usability to user experience: evaluation models and techniques; Observation, heuristic evaluation, formal lab testing, field testing, interviews and questionnaires;

6. Aesthetics of interaction and interface design;

7. Information visualization and sonification; Elements of visual and sound design; Adapting to devices and use contexts; Smartphone and tablet scenarios.

8. Interface architectures and techniques: from language to GUI, TUI and NUI.

Head Lecturer(s)

Licínio Gomes Roque

Assessment Methods

Assessement
Project: 50%; Problem resolving report: 50% *Minimum of 47,5% required: 100.0%

Bibliography

D. Norman, The psychology of Everyday Things

Beyer & Holtzblat, Contextual Design

Y. Rogers, H. Sharp, and J. Preece. Interaction Design: Beyond Human-Computer Interaction

B. Buxton, Sketching the User Experience

Nilsen, Usability Engineering

Selected Papers on Design and HCI Research Topics