Muhammad Ali Jinnah University

Department of Computer Science

Spring 2018

Course Name: Human Computer Interaction (HCI)

Credit Hours: 3+0

Description: Human-computer interaction (HCI) is concerned with designing interactions between human activities and the
computational systems that support them, and with constructing interfaces to afford those interactions. Interaction between
users and computational artefacts occurs at an interface that includes both software and hardware. Thus interface design impacts
the software life-cycle in that it should occur early; the design and implementation of core functionality can influence the user
interface – for better or worse. Because it deals with people as well as computational systems, as a knowledge area HCI demands
the consideration of cultural, social, organizational, cognitive and perceptual issues. Consequently it draws on a variety of
disciplinary traditions, including psychology, ergonomics, computer science, graphic and product design, anthropology and
engineering. [ACM/IEEE Curricula 2013]

Course Objectives:

a. Building the conceptual foundations of HCI as an emerging field

b. Provide the key knowledge regarding analysis and design of Human Centred Interfaces and Interactions
c. Developing skills of comparing and evaluating various Systems/Applications from HCI perspective
d. Building ability to design localized as well as international interfaces

Intended Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the term, students will be able to:

1- Define and Identify the issues of not addressing human factors while designing systems and explain the
importance and impact of aiming these design factors [Knowledge Outcome]
2- Analyse and gather the user needs [Ability Outcome]
3- Design localized/international user interfaces starting from a paper prototype with a focus on handling the
possible human errors. [Cognition Outcome/Attitude Outcome]
4- Design interactive systems for scenarios/applications with specific constraints related to culture, society, age
groups, disabilities, devices (resource constrained) etc. [Cognitive/Attitude Outcome]
5- Choose appropriate methods to support the development of a specific UI, use a variety of techniques to evaluate
a given UI, and compare the constraints and benefits of different evaluative methods. [Ability/Cognition
Outcome]
6- Understand the interaction possibilities beyond mouse-and-pointer interfaces [Knowledge Outcome]
7- Describe and compare HCI issues in applications involving collaborative communications.
[Knowledge/Cognition Outcome]

Teaching Methods/Course Structure:

The course unfolds by examining design, implementation, and evaluation as a continual, integrated, and iterative process.
Theoretical class lectures are augmented by case studies of interface successes and failures. Students apply the theoretical
knowledge learnt in a series of assignments that bring them through an entire design, implementation, and evaluation cycle.
The course also introduces students to novel interfaces (illustrated on video) that go far beyond today’s standard graphical user
interfaces.
Instructor Contact Details:
Name: Shaukat Wasi
Email: shaukat.wasi@jinnah.edu
Office Hours: Tuesday/Thursday [03:30 – 4:30], Wednesday [2:00 – 4:00]

Textbooks:
 Human Computer Interaction (3rd Edition) by Alan Dix, Janet Finlay, Gregory D. Abowd, and Russell Beale.
http://www.hcibook.com/e3/plain/
 Interaction Design: Beyond Human-Computer Interaction, 3rd Edition, Sharp, H; Rogers, Y; and Peerce, J. http://www.id-
book.com/thirdedition/home.php

Reference Material:
 Designing the User Interface: Strategies for Effective Human-Computer Interaction (5th Edition) by Ben Shneiderman and
Catherine Plaisant.
 The Design of Everyday things by Donald A. Norman; 2002.

Project:
Projects will be group based. At max 2 students can work in a group to complete the project. The project will span over
the whole semester duration. It will be developed phase by phase iteratively and the pace will follow the flow of topics
covered in lecture sessions. We need the following material for our project: a table and chairs, a laptop with a webcam,
free software to capture and synchronize video, audio and screen action, think-aloud protocol. Project is not aimed over
learning a design tool or language. We need a prototype, developed using some simple design tool, that can be tested
and improved to meet HCI guidelines.

Grading Scheme:
Instrument % of grade
Quizzes (5) 10%
Assignments (5) 15%
Project (1) 15%
Midterm Exam (1) 20%
Final exam (1) 40%

Attendance Policy: Really just short of mandatory. We are all busy people but I need to have you here for all 16
sessions. Unexcused absences or missing more than 2 classes will lower your course grade.

Cheating Policy:
Zero tolerance towards cheating!! A 0 assigned for the 1st attempt, and an F assigned for the 2nd attempt... Simply
Students are expected to uphold the University standard of conduct relating to academic honesty. Students assume full
responsibility for the content and integrity of the academic work they submit. The guiding principle of academic integrity shall
be that a student's submitted work, examinations, reports, and projects must be that of the student's own work. Students shall
be guilty of violating the honor code if they:

1. Represent the work of others as their own

2. Use or obtain unauthorized assistance in any academic work
3. Give unauthorized assistance to other students
4. Modify, without instructor approval, an examination, paper, record, or report for the purpose of obtaining additional
credit
5. Misrepresent the content of submitted work
Lecture Plan:
The course is tentatively scheduled as follows:

Lecture No. Topic Reading Assignments

(Per Week)

1 Introduction to HCI, Course outline, course objectives discussed, CHAP-1[PEERCE]

What is Interaction Design, Importance of HCI, examples from
everyday life,

2 Interaction design, HCI Designers’ Consideration, Understanding CHAP-1[PEERCE]

users’ needs, Goals of interaction design, Usability Goals, Usability vs
User Experience, Design Principles: Visibility, Feedback, Design
Principles: Constraints, Affordance

3 Understanding and Conceptualizing interaction, Problem space, CHAP-2[PEERCE]

Conceptual model, Mental Model, Metaphors, Interaction Types,
Interface types

4 Physical Capabilities and Cognitive Models informing ID CHAP-3[PEERCE]

5 Designing for coIIaboration, and communication, Social Models CHAP- 4[PEERCE]

informing ID

6 Understanding how interfaces affect users Emotional Models CHAP- 5[PEERCE]

informing ID

7 Nielsen Usability Heuristics Principles, Nielsen Usability Heuristics CHAP-2[PEERCE]

Principles, Shneiderman Principles

8 Nielsen Usability Heuristics Principles, Nielsen Usability Heuristics CHAP-2[PEERCE]

Principles, Shneiderman Principles

MID TERM

9 Techniques for gathering requirements CHAP- 7and 10

10 Elements of Visual Design, Interfaces CHAP- 6[PEERCE]

11 Approaches to, and characteristics of, the design process CHAP- 9[PEERCE]

12 CHAP- 11[PEERCE]
Prototyping, Low-Fidelity and High Fidelity Prototype, Storyboards
CHAP-6 [DIX]

13 CHAP-9 [DIX]
Evaluation Techniques, Goals of Evaluation, Cognitive Walkthrough,
Heuristic Evaluation, Experimental evaluation, Experimental factors
CHAP 12,13 [PEERCE]

14 Observational Methods, Physiological Methods, Heuristic Evaluation CHAP-9 [DIX]

of a Website,
 Evaluation: Inspection, Analytics and Models CHAP 12,13 [PEERCE],
CHAP-14

15 New Technologies and Future Trends HandOuts/Videos

15 Project Demos and Presentations Presentations

Final Exam