CGT 512 Human Factors of Computer Interface Design Fall 2011 Meets: Wednesdays 6-8:50 pm, Knoy B019

Instructor: Dr. Mihaela Vorvoreanu mihaela@purdue.edu 496-7709 Twitter: @mihaela_v Office hours: W-Th 3:00-4:00 pm; by appointment Information about this course available on: 1. Course blog: http://cgt512.wordpress.com/ Useful information, additional reflections and readings, resources, assignments. 2. Blackboard Readings, assignments, grades 3. Email from instructor Only in emergency situations. The primary source of information is the course blog. Please make sure you monitor all three continuously throughout the semester! Course description: This course introduces the principles and fundamentals of human factors and human-computer interaction relative to interactive computer graphics applications and their associated interfaces. Principles and methodologies of usability and performance testing are used to highlight relationships between various components of human factors, design, and cognitive psychology in the development of computer graphics-related applications for the purposes of understanding, assessment, and validation. A variety of assessment and validation methodologies are applied to the development of a broad range of interactive multimedia applications. Course objectives: Upon completing the course, students will be able to:  Explain the fundamental principles of human-computer interface design  Apply the iterative steps of user-centered interface design  Evaluate interface design solutions  Plan and implement various usability research studies to test interface solutions at different stages of production.  Write up usability reports and provide specific solutions for improving interface usability  Identify directions and trends in contemporary human-computer interaction research Major assignments: 1. Usability research reports - Students complete 4 separate usability research reports: Heuristic evaluation, Card sort, Qualitative research, and Usability testing. Detailed instructions will be provided for each report. 2. Final portfolio Students assemble the 4 research reports into a portfolio. Portfolio includes reflection and bibliography.

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3. Research articles discussion and analysis Each student will identify and read five research articles in the area of human factors in interface design or human-computer interaction. The student willblog a summary and analysis of each article. All students are required to read and commenton all blog posts about research readings. Detailed instructions about this assignment are provided on the course blog. 4. Blog Each student will maintain a blog about interface design, usability, and HCI. Detailed instructions and grading criteria will be provided on the course blog. Requirements include: At least 10 examples of good/bad interface design; reading reflections; other blogs and interesting articles, class reflections. Also research articles, although those are graded separately. 5. Exam One final exam 6. Attendance, participation, and professionalism (APP)- students are expected to attend all classes, and to be prepared to discuss the assigned readings. This grade reflects thoughtful and engaged contributions to class discussions and online participation (e.g. commenting on classmates blog posts).Each missed class except the first one will cause the loss of 3 points. Classes will be excused for medical emergencies, with a doctor s note. If you have a fever or suspect you have the flu, please stay home to avoid infecting others. Do consult a doctor for early treatment and bring a written note. Students will observe professional and reliable work habits and behaviors. Impeccable work ethics include timely work, prompt communication with the instructor and members of team projects, and, of course, valuable contributions to team projects. Professionalism is expected in all interactions (in class, by email, on Twitter) with all class members and the instructor, and includes correct spelling and grammar. Note: Late assignments will notget ANY points unless prior arrangements have been made with the Instructor and only because of extreme circumstances.

Activity Usability research report 1 Usability research report 2 Usability research report 3 Usability research report 4 Final portfolio Research readings (5) Blog Exam Attendance, participation& professionalism (APP) Total

Percentage 5% 10% 7% 13% 5% 25% 15% 10% 10%

Grading scale

95-100 A, A+ 90-94 A87-89 B+ 84-86 B 80-83 B77-79 C+ 74-76 C 70-73 C67-69 D+ 64-66 D 60-63 D0-59 F

100%

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Course readings: 1. Cooper, A. (2007). About face 3: The essentials of interaction design. Indianapolis, IN (Cooper in the schedule below) ISBN-10: 0470084111 ISBN-13: 978-0470084113 2.Tullis, T., & Albert, W. (2008). Measuring the user experience: Collecting, analyzing, and presenting usability metrics. Burlington, MA: Morgan Kaufman. (Tullis in the schedule below) ISBN-10: 0123735580 ISBN-13: 978-0123735584 3.Krug, S. (2005). Don t make me think. (2nd ed.). Berkeley, CA: New Riders Press. ISBN-10: 0321344758 ISBN-13: 978-0321344755 4. Other readings posted on Blackboard Expectations and policies:  I expect students to make an honest attempt to learn. Giving it a good, honest, try will most likely ensure success in the course. Cutting corners, rushing through assignments, and dishonesty in ANY form are indicators of not giving it a good try and will lead to course failure. I have a zero-tolerance policy for dishonesty, academic or otherwise. Academic dishonesty (plagiarism, improper citations, poor teamwork, fabricating data, etc.) will result in failure of the course and a report to the dean of students. I expect students to focus their attention in class, to make an effort to be present, alert, and to participate constructively. Sitting in class while your mind is attending to other matters may result in an unexcused absence. Please be mindful of computer use and do not use cell phones except in emergencies. I expect students to follow directions carefully. Please subscribe to the class blog and read carefully all assignment descriptions and instructor e-mails. I expect students to be active participants in their learning process. I can facilitate the process and point the way, but only YOU can learn for yourself. Take charge of your education, be involved, be curious. Please familiarize yourself with other course policies available on the course website (info page).

 

Emergency statement: Please take some time to familiarize yourself with campus emergency procedures, available at: http://www.itap.purdue.edu/tlt/faculty/ If you haven t done so already, please consider signing up for the campus text message emergency notification system at: http://www.purdue.edu/securepurdue/ In the event of a major campus emergency, course requirements, deadlines and grading percentages are subject to changes that may be necessitated by a revised semester calendar or other circumstances beyond the instructor s control. The course may also be modified during the semester to better serve students learning needs. You will receive an email with any changes about the course.

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Schedule: Week 1 Aug 24 Topic Introductions Course overview Human Factors: What and Why User-centeredness as an approach to everything Reading Materials Assignments

2 Aug 31

Nielsen ch 1 on BB Cooper ch 1 Tullis ch 1 The design of everyday things chapter(s) on BB Readings on BB Cooper ch 2 SNIF-ACT: A Cognitive Model of User Navigation on the World Wide Web JHCI on BB

3 Sept 7 4 Sept 14

Visual perception and Visual Attention Mental Models Cognition

5 Sept 21

Heuristic evaluation intro to principles Fundamental usability & interface design principles; Fundamentals of interaction design The design process

6 Sept 28 7 Oct 5

8 Oct 12

9 Oct 19

10 Oct 26 11 Nov 2

Formative research: ethnography, focus groups, interviews Qualitative data analysis: Personas, Scenarios, Tasks, Requirements Mockups and Prototypes: Cognitive walkthrough Information organization: Card Sorting

Readings on BB BOOK REPORTS illustrate rules with examples Cooper ch 8, 11, 12, 13, 14 Cooper ch 15, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24 Revisit Cooper pp 17-20 Brinck, Gergle & Wood ch 1 on BB October break Cooper ch 4 Readings on BB Cooper ch 5, 6 Readings on BB Cooper ch 7 Readings on BB Tullis ch 9 Readings on BB

Student presentations

Student presentations

Report 1 due: Heuristic evaluation

12 Nov 9 13 Nov 16

14 Nov 30

Usability testing 1: Performance Tullis ch 4 & 5 metrics, Issue metrics Usability testing 2: Behavioral Tullis ch 6 & 7 metrics, self-reported metrics Thanksgiving break Reporting usability data

Report 2 due: Personas, Scenarios, Tasks, Requirements Report 3 due: Card Sorting

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15 Dec 7 16 Dec 14

Final presentations Final exam

Report 4 due: Usability testing Final portfolio due

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