Human Computer Interaction
MSc in Computer Engineering
University of Pavia
Code: 504709 Instructor: Prof. Mauro Mosconi
This course provides students with the necessary skills to design usable interfaces and to evaluate them. It is for people that want to design technology based on an understanding of users' needs and to ensure that the products they and others design meet those needs.
Required textbook
Human-Computer Interaction, 3rd edition, by Dix, Finlay, Abowd and Beale, Prentice Hall, 2003. (See companion site.)
Topics
The majority of readings listed below are chapters or sections from the textbook.
A number of supplementary readings will be passed out in class as well.
The following list is purely indicative. The program and resources, which may vary from year to year, are precisely indicated on the Kiro platform.
- Introduction to HCI ACM SIGCHI Curricula for HCI
- The human: psychological and physiological attributes (ch. 1)
- Accessibility (various resources)
- The dialog between user and system (ch. 3)
- Interaction paradigms (ch. 4 + supplementary readings)
- Interaction design basics (ch. 5)
- HCI in the software process (ch. 6: 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3)
- Good design rules (ch. 7)
- Usability evaluation techniques (ch. 9)
Extra topics (non included in the exam):
- Principles of graphic design
- Persuasive technology
- User Experience & Human Computer Interaction (UX/HCI)
- Design patterns
Grading
Participation (although not mandatory) will be an important part of the class. It is expected that you will attend all classes and read all relevant portions of the text.
There will be a final written exam.
Students who have followed the 75% of the classes have the opportunity to increase their mark (up to three points) through an optional activity to be agreed with the professor (designing the prototype of an interface OR evaluating the usability of an interface OR preparing a lesson, with slides, about an agreed topic OR preparing infographics about an agreed topic).
Course materials
The slides of the teacher will not be made available. Students are encouraged to download the slides produced by the authors of the textbook, available at the companion website (http://www.hcibook.com/e3/resources/)
Office hours
Students can meet with professor Mauro Mosconi in his study preferably after class. You might want to write to mauro.mosconi@unipv.it and make an appointment.
Students With Disabilities
All effort will be made to ensure that no students with disabilities are denied any opportunity to successfully complete this course. If you have specific requirements that need to be addressed, please contact mauro.mosconi@unipv.it immediately.
