CSE 8316 (Spring 2018) Syllabus
User Interface Design
Prof. Jeff Tian, CSE Dept., SMU, Dallas, TX 75275
Phone: (214)768-2861; Fax: (214)768-3085
E-mail: tian@lyle.smu.edu; Webpage: www.lyle.smu.edu/~tian/class/8316.18s
1. General Information and Course Contents
With the pervasive use of computers, smart devices,
software and information systems,
information technology and infrastructure, and related products and services
in modern society or the "connected-world"
by the massive and diverse user population,
usability ("how easy to use it?") of such systems has taken
on increased importance,
making it one of the primary quality attributes for these users
and a critical factor that determines the success or failure of
the products, systems, or services.
User interface design, evaluation, and improvement play a key role
in achieving our goal of good (universal) usability for these
diverse population of users.
In this course, we will cover related activities and techniques,
including:
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Basics:
Basic concepts related to (universal) usability,
and scientific, engineering, and cognitive foundations, including
relevant theories, models, and methodologies from diverse fields of
studies not only limited to computer science,
guidelines, usability studies,
and controlled experimentation.
Foundations for designing user-centered systems will be covered,
including those characteristics involving anthropometric,
behavior, cognition, and social aspects.
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Design:
Easy-to-use (often graphical, but could be other "easy-to-use"
or "appropriate-for-needs" types of)
user interfaces for desktops,
web, mobile devices, etc.,
through direct manipulation,
immersive environments, fluid navigation, expressive
(human and command) languages,
and other forms/styles of interaction, communications, and collaboration.
-
Evaluation:
Assessment of usability by quantitative and qualitative methods.
Not only the finished products or services can be evaluated,
but also the working prototypes and other artifacts can also be
evaluated, and more importantly, improved (also see below).
Most of the design strategies and issues will be presented and
discussed in connection with how they will affect usability
and how this effect can be evaluated and/or quantified.
-
Process and improvement:
Other activities in the software process with a focus on usability
will also be covered, including continuous improvement of usability,
information solicitation and data gathering, analysis and modeling,
result interpretation and followup actions, as well as automated tool
support for these activities.
Some recent inter-disciplinary research at SMU linking software engineering
and HCI will be covered too.
Workload and Grading
The course grade each student receives will reflect the weighted
average of exams, homework assignments, and course project.
The approximate weight assignment is as follows:
Homework and participation
Midterm Exam
Final Exam
Project
|
15%
25%
25%
35%
|
Textbook and Other Information
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Required:
Ben Shneiderman, Catherine Plaisant, Maxine S. Cohen,
Steven M. Jacobs and Niklas Elmqvist,
"Designing the User Interface:
Strategies for Effective Human-Computer Interaction, 6th Edition"
Addison-Wesley, 2017
ISBN-13: 978-0-13-438038-4;
ISBN-10: 0-13-438038-X
-
Highly recommended:
Frank E. Ritter,
Gordon D. Baxter,
and
Elizabeth F. Churchill,
"Foundations for Designing User-Centered Systems:
What System Designers Need to Know about People".
Springer, 2014.
ISBN: 978-1-4471-5133-3
-
Both books are available at SMU bookstore,
the publisher, or your favorite local/online booksellers.
-
List of topics and
tentative schedule
-
Notice 1:
If you need to make alternative arrangements for turning-in
material or taking exams,
you must contact the instructor ahead of time,
unless it is truly an emergency.
(Otherwise you'll receive 0 for the specific item.)
-
Notice 2
(Relevant SMU policies):
-
Disability Accommodations:
Students needing academic accommodations for a disability must first
register with Disability Accommodations & Success Strategies (DASS).
Students can call 214-768-1470 or visit
http://www.smu.edu/Provost/ALEC/DASS to begin the process.
Once registered, students should then schedule an appointment with
the professor as early in the semester as possible,
present a DASS Accommodation Letter, and make appropriate arrangements.
Please note that accommodations are not retroactive and require
advance notice to implement.
-
Religious Observance: Religiously observant students wishing to
be absent on holidays that require missing class should notify
their professors in writing at the beginning of the semester,
and should discuss with them,
in advance, acceptable ways of making up any
work missed because of the absence.
(See University Policy No. 1.9.)
-
Excused Absences for University Extracurricular Activities:
Students participating in an officially sanctioned,
scheduled University extracurricular activity should be given
the opportunity to make up class assignments or other
graded assignments missed as a result of their participation.
It is the responsibility of the student to make arrangements
with the instructor prior to any missed scheduled examination
or other missed assignment for making up the work.
(University Undergraduate Catalogue)
Prepared by Jeff Tian
(tian@lyle.smu.edu).
Posted: Jan. 24, 2018.
Last update: Jan. 24, 2018.