CS 5714 -- Usability Engineering

Spring 2002 -- MWF 1:25-2:15
Torg 1080


Professor
Scott McCrickard
mccricks@cs.vt.edu
623 McBryde Hall
Office Hours: MW 2:15-3:30 or by appointment

Teaching Assistant
Iype Isac
iisac@vt.edu
133 McBryde
Office Hours: T 4-6, Th 3-5

Required Text
Mary Beth Rosson and John M. Carroll, Usability Engineering: Scenario-Based Development of Human-Computer Interaction, Morgan Kaufmann.

Course Description
From the course catalog: Design and evaluation of effective user interfaces, beginning with principles for designing the product. Development process for user interaction separate from interactive software development. Development process includes iterative life cycle management, systems analysis, design, usability specifications, design representation techniques, prototyping, formative user-based evaluation. Integrative and cross-disciplinary approach with main emphasis on usability methods and the user interaction development process. Cross listed as ISE 5714. (3H,3C).

Resources
The listserv will be the primary way to exchange information outside of class. Announcements will be sent to the listserv, and summaries from in-class events should be sent to the listserv.

A full syllabus (this document) will be maintained on the class Web page. Information about lectures, assignments, and exams will be added to the class Web page throughout the quarter. Lecture notes will be linked to the Course Topics section of the page. Assignments and exam review materials will be linked to the Assignment and Exam Due Dates section. Friday activities are listed on the activities page. Ongoing class projects are listed on the project ideas page. Note that all of the information in the syllabus is subject to change.

Listserv: CS5714_15109@LISTSERV.VT.EDU
Web page: http://courses.cs.vt.edu/~cs5714/spring2002/
List of class members
 
Final Grades: http://courses.cs.vt.edu/~cs5714/spring2002/grades.htm


Course Topics

Jan 14-18 Overview and Introduction Ch 1
Jan 21-25 Interaction Paradigms Ch 9 (Project Part 0 Due Jan 25)
Jan 28-Feb 1 Requirements Analysis Ch 2
Feb 4-8 Activity Design Ch 3
Feb 11-Mar 1 Information Design (1, 2, 3) Ch 4 (Midterm Feb 18, Project Part 1 Due Mar 1)
Mar 11-18 Interaction Design Ch 5
Mar 20-25 Prototyping Ch 6
Mar 25-Apr 12 Usability Evaluation, example Ch 7 (Project Part 2 Due Apr 1)
Apr 8-12 Documentation Ch 8
Apr 15-19 UE in the real world Ch 10
Apr 22-24 TBA
Apr 26-May 1 Project Presentations

Assignment and Exam Due Dates

Jan 25 Project Part 0
Feb 18 Midterm
Mar 1 Project Part 1
Apr 1 Project Part 2
Apr 26-May 1 Project Presentations
May 3 at 1:05 PM Final Exam

Evaluation Summary

Project 50%
Midterm 10%
Final 15%
Participation 25%

Contact Information:

Scott McCrickard
mccricks@cs.vt.edu
623 McBryde Hall
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, VA 24061-0106