Computer Science 171:
Human-Computer Interaction

Robert J.K. Jacob
Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Tufts University

General Description

An introduction to Human-Computer Interaction, or how computers communicate with people. Methodology for designing and testing user interfaces, interaction styles (command line, menus, graphical user interfaces, virtual reality), interaction techniques (including use of voice, gesture, and eye movement), design guidelines, and user interface management system software. Students will design a small user interface, program a prototype, and then test the result for usability.

Textbook

Ben Shneiderman, Designing the User Interface: Strategies for Effective Human-Computer Interaction, Third Edition, Addison Wesley Longman, Reading, Mass. (1998).

Course Work

Course work will consist of exams, some homework problems, and a project in which students will design a very small user interface, build a prototype, and then test it for usability.

Grading

Based on exams, homeworks, projects, and class participation.

Prerequisite

Computer Science 15.

Topic Outline and Reading List

1. Introduction to Human-computer Interaction

2. Methodology for Designing User-computer Interfaces
Reading: Chapters 1-2

• Task analysis
• Conceptual, semantic, syntactic, and lexical levels of the design of an interactive system

3. Interaction Styles
Reading: Chapters 3-5

• Command language
• Question and answer
• Form-based
• Menus
• Natural language
• Direct manipulation
• Virtual Reality
• Pen-based
• Gesture-based
• Passive non-command-based

4. Design and Evaluation Process
Reading: Chapters 8 and 10

• Testing and evaluating interface designs
• Prototyping
• Tools for rapid prototypes (e.g., Visual Basic, Hypercard, etc.)
• Guidelines and criteria for designing user interfaces

5. User Interface Software
Reading: Chapter 14

• Languages and tools for specifying and building interfaces
• Dialogue independence
• UIMS (user interface management system) approach

6. User Interface Specifications
Reading: Chapter 14 (continued)

• Languages and software abstractions for user interfaces
• Programming support tools

7. Interaction Tasks, Techniques, and Devices
Reading: Chapter 6

• Design of novel interaction techniques
• Modes of human-computer communication
• Voice
• Gesture
• Eye movement
• Theoretical foundations for interaction techniques

8. Human Performance
Reading: Chapters 8.4-8.5 and 9

• Scientific foundations from perception, human factors engineering
• Visual presentation of information
• Design of experiments
• Examples of experiments

9. Project