Human Computer Interaction

The purpose of this class is to ground students in the basics of how humans interact with technology, and make students aware of the breadth of topic areas related to human-computer interaction (HCI). This course emphasizes theoretical constructs such as the Model-Human Processor, and includes seminal readings by the original researchers. Further, the course emphasizes techniques for understanding users' tasks, formulating users' requirements, and assessing proposed designs using heuristic evaluation. As part of understanding users' needs, students will consider social, organizational, and ethical perspectives on information technology. Students are also exposed to specialty topics in human-computer interaction such as multi-user computing, universal access to computer applications, and internationalizing interfaces. This course includes a project to design, develop, document, and orally present a prototype interface. At the end of the course students will be able to cite basic principles of human interaction and devise and carry out a usability engineering plan to aid in developing new human interfaces.