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CS 4634 – Design
of Information |
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CS 4634 Design of Information Fall 2012 Course Info: CRN: 91924 Meeting times: TuTh 3:30-4:45 Meeting room: 231 McBryde Course Description (from catalog): Survey of the higher-order properties that allow data to become information, that is, to inform people. The course focuses on the design of user interface layouts, and on the design of texts and hypertexts, as well as on the information development process. Course Goals: Computers are a medium of communication. The course prepares students to think about information abstractly and to present it appropriately.This course takes a design-centered approach. While the project will be to design and deploy a web site, this is not a web site design class, per se. Topics include: audience, voice, structure, narrative, gaming, clutter and visual noise, competing elements, excessive detail, contrast problems, visual interference, spatial tension, grouping and gestalt, display density, symmetry and balance, window sizes and layouts, visual language, visual consistency, grid-based layout, using images for abstract concepts, needs analysis, browsing and search, design of information modules, link designs, information layering, progressive disclosure, metaphors, dialog design, hypermedia navigation, help systems, computer-based instruction, and information overload. Prerequisite: CS 2604 or CS 3114. CS 3744 strongly recommended; CS 3724 (Intro to HCI) also strongly recommended, however NOT IN THE SAME SEMESTER. Instructor: Office Location: 121 VTKW II, 2202 Kraft Drive (in the CRC) Office hours: by appointment
GTA: hci.kim@gmail.com Office hours: TBD @ the CS Undergraduate Lounge (110 McBryde)
Course Public Website: http://courses.cs.vt.edu/~cs4634/ Course Private Website: https://scholar.vt.edu/portal/site/e79dda44-646a-4c97-879d-d40d560da939
Required Textbook: Information Architecture for the World Wide Web, 3rd edition Louis Rosenfeld & Peter Morville O'Reilly, 2006 ISBN 0-596-00035-9 Lecture Notes and Readings: Lecture notes and readings will be available on the schedule page. Readings should be prepared in advance of the class for which they are listed. Lecture notes may be printed and brought to class for your own personal notes if you wish. Grading: o 42% - Group projects o 24% - Homework assignments – 4 assignments worth 4 points each + 1 asignment worth 8 o 9% - Practicum/In-class activities – attendance and participation worth 1 point each o 10% - Midterm exam – covers the first half of the semester o 15% - Final exam – using your journal as source material
Schedule
of In-Class Activities This course meets on a Tuesday/Thursday schedule. Typically, Tuesdays will involve lectures and/or discussions of readings, and Thursdays will be used for in-class activities. However, be alert for changes to the schedule. POLICIES Assignment submissions: Homework and project reports are due by class time (12:30 PM) on the due date. Ten percent (10%) of the maximum grade will be deducted for each day an assignment is late, up to a maximum of three days; weekends count as two days. Homework and project reports will typically be turned in by hard copy to the TA. Check each assignment description for details on submission. Attendance Attendance at all classes is important for students to succeed in this course. Please show respect for the instructor and the other students by arriving on time and prepared. Attendance is required for the in-class activities, and this will be part of your grade in the course. Honor
Code All work in this course is to be your own, and the university honor code is in effect. Groups will collaborate on projects, but the other graded aspects of the course are based on individual work. You will be required to sign an honor code statement on the midterm and final exam. Special
Needs If you have any special needs or circumstances (disability accommodations, religious holidays that will cause you to miss class, etc.) please feel free to visit the instructor during his office hours. |
Copyright © 2012 Steve Harrison |