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LP20106: Human computer interface

Follow this link for further information on academic years Academic Year: 2012/3
Further information on owning departmentsOwning Department/School: Department of Computer Science (administered by the Learning Partnerships Office)
Further information on credits Credits: 5
Further information on unit levels Level: Intermediate (FHEQ level 5)
Further information on teaching periods Period: Academic Year at City of Bath College
Academic Year at Weston College
Academic Year at Wiltshire College
Further information on unit assessment Assessment: CW 100%
Further information on supplementary assessment Supplementary Assessment: Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Further information on requisites Requisites:
Further information on descriptions Description: Aims:
To give learners the opportunity:
* To gain an understanding of the importance of and significant role played by the human computer interface (HCI)
* To understand the importance of HCI in the design and development of safe, usable and efficient software
* To understand the need for different HCIs for different user groups.

Learning Outcomes:
At the completion of the unit, learners should be able to :
* Describe the latest HCI developments and the applications and user groups to which they are suited
* Describe the different user groups and the way they interact with different interfaces
* Produce different designs for interfaces using established HCI rules, guidelines and heuristics
* Evaluate existing HCIs for usability, functionality and overall efficiency.

Skills:
Practical skills - interface design skills taught and assessed
Personal skills - time management, personal organisation, independent research, problem solving - facilitated
Communication skills - oral presentations, demonstrations, written reports - facilitated and assessed.

Content:
History of HCI
* How the topic has developed and grown in importance
Current developments in HCI
* Hardware developments i.e. screens, keyboards, pointing devices, complete range of input/output devices, speech/face/hand/iris recognition
Different user groups
* Novice, regular, expert, visually impaired, blind, physically disabled, special needs
How users interact with computers
* Models of users, human memory, cognition, perception, attention, skills acquisition, use of metaphors
Ergonomics, Health and safety considerations
* Lighting, seating, office environment, RSI, legal implications
Workstation environment
* The 'ideal' workstation environment
Prototyping
* Rapid prototyping, low fidelity vs. high fidelity, selection of tools/methodology
Evaluation of HCIs
* Task analysis, measuring of usability, functionality. Use of metrics to measure performance, efficiency and user satisfaction.
Further information on programme availabilityProgramme availability:

LP20106 is Optional on the following programmes:

Programmes administered by the Learning Partnerships Office
  • USCM-DPF21 : FdSc Computing (Part-time at City of Bath College) - Year 3
  • USCM-LPF21 : FdSc Computing (Part-time at Weston College) - Year 3
  • USCM-WPF21 : FdSc Computing (Part-time at Wiltshire College) - Year 3

Notes:
* This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2012/13 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2013/14 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2012/13.
* Programmes and units are subject to change at any time, in accordance with normal University procedures.
* Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.