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A project-focused course covering fundamental principles of user interface design, implementation, and evaluation. Small teams work on a term-long project that involves: analysis of the problem domain, user skills, and tasks; iterative prototyping of interfaces to address user needs; conducting several forms of evaluation such as cognitive walkthroughs and usability tests; implementation of the final prototype. Non-technical majors may enroll as non-programmers who participate in all aspects of the projects with the possible exception of implementation. Course Information: 4 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite: CS 225.

The Design of Everyday Things by Donald A. Norman and Human-Computer Interaction, 3rd Ed., by Alan Dix, Janet Finlay, Gregory Abowd and Russell Beale

Identify, prioritize, and correct usability problems with an interactive system. (1)
Apply theories of human abilities to assess the design of an interactive system. (1)
Plan and execute user research to generate user requirements for the design of an interactive system. (2)
Construct a low-fidelity prototype that represents a design concept. (1), (2)
Implement an interactive system using an event-driven programming model. (6)
Plan and deliver a presentation of a design proposal. (3)
Function effectively as a member or leader of a team engaged in activities appropriate to the program’s discipline. (5)

Human abilities and limitations
User research methods
Prototyping techniques
User interface tools and toolkits
Discount usability techniques
Empirical user studies

Selected Elective.