Course Expectations and Tentative Syllabus

INL 650 User Interface Technologies Spring 2002

Bucks Campus - Room 126, Tue 6:15-9:00pm

Professor: Dr. Michael Redmond

330 Olney Hall (215) 951-1096

redmond@lasalle.edu

http://www.lasalle.edu/~redmond

Office Hours: T 5:00-6:15pm

And at other times by appointment. Also, by phone and e-mail.

Text:

Shneiderman, B., Designing the User Interface. 3rd Edition, Addison Wesley Longman, Reading MA, 1998 ISBN: 0-201-69497-2

Course Description:

This course will examine the issues associated with human-computer interaction including human-computer task allocation, interface technologies, such as GUIs, speech, virtual reality. It will address how to design interfaces likely to enhance performance. Discussion of interface technologies support for good interface design, so technology managers can understand interface issues in technology choice. Evaluation methods will also be examined, so UI designers can determine if their interfaces are enhancing or degrading human performance. WWW and multimedia interface technologies. Interfaces for users with disabilities. Interface issues involved with globalization

Grading:

Midterm Exam 15%

Final Exam 15%

Project

Initial Report 10%

Initial Design 10%

VB Prototype 10%

Other Prototype 10%

Assessment of Own Design 5%

Final Prototype 15%

Class Presentation 5%

Assessment of Other’s Design 5% (individual assignment)

Final Grades:

A 92-100

A- 90-91

B+ 88-89

B 82-87

B- 80-81

C 60-79

F <60

No make up exams unless arranged in advance.

Final exam is not cumulative, due to the intense project emphasis in later parts of the course

The project is divided into stages with due dates spread over the course of the semester. Assignments may not be turned in late

Course Objectives

• The student will understand current theories, principles and guidelines for effective interface design
• The student will be able to analyze a user interface design for its fit to good design principles
• The student will learn to manage the interface design process for interactive systems.
• The student will be able to assess user interface tools for their support of good design
• The student will compare current user interface tools for their ease of developing interfaces
• The student will work directly with direct manipulation interface environments
• The student will develop an understanding of when virtual reality environments may be appropriate
• The student will gain experience with designing, prototyping and assessing a user interface.
• The student will develop an appreciation for the societal and individual impact of user interfaces, including job satisfaction, privacy, safety
• The student will develop an understanding of issues involved in the generality of interface design: globalization and accommodation of disabilities.

Snow:

The La Salle – Bucks evening snow code is 2746. La Salle’s WWW page announces main campus status, which may differ from Bucks. I’m told that you can also call the “hot-line” at (215) 951-1910.

Tentative Course Plan:

Week	Date	Topic	Reading	Assignments
1	1/15	Human factors of interactive systems and user interfaces	Shneiderman Chapt 1
2	1/22	Theories, Principles, and Guidelines	Shneiderman Chapt 2
3	1/29	Managing Design Processes	Shneiderman Chapt 3
4	2/5	Evaluation of User Interfaces	Shneiderman Chapt 4
5	2/12	User Interface Tools	Shneiderman Chapt 5
6	2/19	Software Development Tools and Interface Design	VB Intro TBD	Initial Report Due
7	2/26	Midterm Exam
	3/5	SPRING BREAK – NO CLASS
8	3/12	Software Development Tools and Interface Design	Other UI Intro TBD	Design Assignment Due
9	3/19	Direct Manipulation and Virtual Reality Environments	Shneiderman Chapt 6
10	3/26	Natural Language and Speech Interfaces	Shneiderman parts of Chapt 8, 9	Assess Design Due
11	4/2	Natural Language and Speech Interfaces	Technology Ref TBD
12	4/9	Accommodation of Disabilities, Globalization	TBD	VB Prototype Due
13	4/16	Societal and Individual Impact of User Interfaces	Shneiderman Afterword	Other Prototype Due
14	4/23	Project Presentations		Final Prototype Due
15	4/30	Final Exam