cs3724:  Introduction to HCI

Course:

MWF 12:20-1:10pm
Robeson 105
CRN: 91395
Final Exam:  Dec 13, 7:45-9:45am
Prerequisites:  cs2604 required
Mandatory first day attendance.

Dr. Chris North
619 McBryde Hall
Office Hours:  MW 1:15-3pm

Beth Yost
beyost@vt.edu
Office Hours:  T Th 10am-noon, McBryde 133, or by appointment.

• Usability Engineering: Scenario-Based Development of Human-Computer Interaction, by Rosson & Carroll, Morgan Kaufmann.
• Teach Yourself Java2 in 21 Days, SAMS.  (optional)

• http://courses.cs.vt.edu/~cs3724/

40%  Project
25%  Homeworks
30%  Exams
5%    Presentation

This course covers the basic elements of design, development, and evaluation of software user interfaces.  Approximately 50% of the course is devoted to the scenario-based usability engineering methodology, and 50% to graphical user interface programming concepts.  Topics covered include:

• Usability engineering:
• analyzing requirements
• activity design
• information design and information visualization
• interaction design
• usability evaluation
• future directions
• Programming concepts:
• Java, Swing
• event-based programming
• GUI widgets, layout
• basic graphics, animation
• data-driven user interfaces

The course is heavily discussion based and requires self motivation.  Students are expected to learn some of the material on their own, since only major conepts are discussed and explored in lectures.  Students present short presentations in class.  A large portion of the grading is devoted to a sizable design and Java implementation project that students do in small groups.  Some assignments are of an open-ended nature, requiring creativity in application of concepts for success.

The Honor System policies of the University and Computer Science Department are to be observed in this course.  All assignments (with the exception of the group project) must be completed by students working alone.  The group project must be completed by the members of the group only.