CS 484: User Interface Design and Development (Spring 2010)

Instructor:

Dr. Michael Wainer
wainer@cs.siu.edu
Rm 3042 Faner Hall, 3-6039
Office Hrs: M & W: 2:15-4:15
Thur: 10-11:50

Teaching Assistant:

Marshall Riley
Faner Rm 3129, 453-6036
Office Hrs: MW 11:00-12:00 in FANER 3129
TR 3:00-4:00 in CASA 104

Course Description:

This course addresses the practical problems of designing interfaces for modern software (as well as other interactive products). Interaction Design and HCI consider both humans and technology as important components of successful systems. Both of these factors will be explored. The importance of a user centered iterative process will be stressed. Topics will include programming considerations for graphical user interfaces (GUIs) as well as design and evaluation techniques. A group project is an integral part of this course.
Prerequisites: CS306 with a grade of C or better.

Text:

Heim, S. 2007 The Resonant Interface: HCI Foundations for Interaction Design. Addison-Wesley Longman Publishing Co., Inc.

Supplemental materials will also be referred to as needed.

Outline:(tentative)

Introduction to Interaction and Usability
Frameworks and Styles of Interaction
Processes for Interaction Design
Discovering Requirements
User & Task Analysis
Guidelines and Standards for Interface Design
Prototyping
Evaluation and Usability Testing
Construction & Underlying Structure of User Interface Software
Design Techniques and Heuristics
Design Models and Metrics
Patterns in HCI/ID, Future Directions etc.

Effective interaction design is not a sequential process but an iterative one. Likewise you may expect that we will revisit various topic areas as we progress through the semester.

General Policies

Makeup's and incompletes will be given only in extreme circumstances. You may feel free to discuss general concepts related to programming problems but the actual solutions to the specific problems should be worked out individually or within your group if given a group assignment.

Course Requirements (tentative distribution)

Labs/projects, presentations, homework, and class participation: 45%
Exams and possibly Quizzes: 55%

Failure to turn in homework or programming assignments can drastically lower your grade. Please do these assignments conscientiously. Resolve any issues pertaining to the grading of an exam/assignment within 1 week after it is returned. All students should read the Departmental Policies on Academic Dishonesty.

Also note that the University has prepared an Emergency Response Guide. More information is available at SIUC's Department of Public Safety .