CS 3724:

Introduction to Human
Computer Interaction
Chris North
Jason Lee
Szu-Chia Lu

WELCOME
TO THE
NEXT LEVEL

Toto, I dont think

were in 2604 anymore.
Class discussion, participation
HWs/Projects: open-ended
Group project
Student presentations

Textbook
Mary Beth Rosson and John M.
Carroll, Usability Engineering:
Scenario-Based Development of
HCI
(required)
Visual C# .NET,
Step-by-Step by Sharp&Jagger
or Core Ref by Williams
(optional)

The Project
Team-based
Choose topic

Information vizualization

Problem seeking / problem solving

Find users & problem, prototype, interim
review presentation, evaluate, revise, final
presentation
C# language?

Grading Breakdown
Presentation (hall of fame/shame)
(4 x 5%)
homework
Mid term
Design project

5%
20%
10%
50%

Final

15%

Team formation
Requirements
Formative analysis & design
Interim presentation
Prototype implementation
Summative Evaluation
Final presentation
Final implementation

0%
10%
20%
5%
10%
20%
5%
30%

Policies
Homework due in class Thurs. Late = 0
No early exams, make up by advance
arrangement
Signed request with rationale

Reminder of VT Honor Code

Specifically, tests and homeworks are individual

Students with special needs see me ASAP

Adminstrivia
Force-adds and prerequisite forms

CRN is 91680 / 91681

Prerequisite is CS 2604, REQUIRED
Everyone must complete the forms TODAY
Must attend today
Add decisions by next meeting

Web page (courses.cs.vt.edu/~cs3724)

contains syllabus, lecture outlines,
assignments, and related materials

HCI ???
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

What is it?
Who cares?
Why is it hard?
How does it work?
What will I learn?

1. What is HCI?

1. What is HCI?
Human-Computer Interaction

1. What is HCI?
Human-Computer Interaction
1. Requirements analysis
2. Design
3. Development
4. Evaluation
of user interfaces for computer systems

Huh?

An example:
HomeFinder

Apartments.com

Hit
List

HomeFinder

The Goal of HCI

Usability
People are trying to accomplish their tasks
in life. (system independent)

task
person
system

Introduce a system,
User Interface should maximize their
ability.

2. Who Cares?
Everyone, because:
1. Everything is a User Interface

Doors

More Doors

2. Who Cares?
Everyone, because:
1. Everything is a User Interface

2. The User Interface is Everything

Florida Cares!
Human error:
Whos fault is
it?

3. Why is it so hard?

Usability is hard
People (users) are all different
People are unpredictable
Design skill isnt enough
Evaluation with users is required
Designers pride
New ways to think, break out of
the box

Usability is hard
People (users) are all different
People are unpredictable
Design skill isnt enough
Evaluation with users is required
Designers pride
New ways to think, break out of the box
Programmers stink at Usability

Usability is hard
Programmers stink at Usability
dont think like normal people
know the software internals,
technology first
enjoy systems more than people
arrogant (my software!)

4. How does it work?

Usability Engineering
Reqs Analysis

Design

Evaluate

Develop

4. How does it work?

Usability Engineering

Reqs Analysis

Design

Evaluate

Develop
many iterations

5. What will I learn?

Task analysis
Ethnography
Reqs Analysis
Usability studies
Controlled experiments
Evaluate

Develop
GUI programming
Widgets, graphics, animation
C#

Design
Activity design
Information design
Interaction design

ANALYZE
analysis of
stakeholders,
field studies

Problem scenarios

claims about
current
practice

Scenario-Based Design

DESIGN
metaphors,
information
technology,
HCI theory,
guidelines

Activity
scenarios
Information scenarios

iterative
analysis of
usability
claims and
re-design

Interaction scenarios

PROTOTYPE & EVALUATE

summative
evaluation

Usability specifications

formative
evaluation

Grander Goals?
Get angry!
Mental shift:
From system-centered design
to user-centered design

Break out of the box

Before you Leave

Prerequisites form!