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CM20319: Human-computer interaction and user experience

[Page last updated: 04 August 2021]

Academic Year: 2021/2
Owning Department/School: Department of Computer Science
Credits: 6 [equivalent to 12 CATS credits]
Notional Study Hours: 120
Level: Intermediate (FHEQ level 5)
Period:
Semester 2
Assessment Summary: CW40EX60
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Detail:
  • Assessment detail for this unit will be available shortly.
Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Requisites: Before taking this module you must take CM10313
Aims:
* To provide students with a foundation in human-computer interaction as an interdisciplinary field that focuses on the design and use of interactive systems.
* To introduce theories, principles and practices that underpin effective interaction design.
* To equip students with quantitative and qualitative data gathering and analysis techniques that are appropriate for assessing the value of an interactive system and the user experience that it provides.

Learning Outcomes: After successfully completing this unit students will be able to:
* Explain principles of interaction design that apply across a diverse range of interactive systems.
* Use established techniques for understanding human activity and modelling human-computer interactions.
* Apply interaction and user experience design methods to produce a demonstrable prototype of an interactive system, which provides support for the goals of a defined user group.
* Select and use appropriate analytical and empirical evaluation techniques in order to critically evaluate an interaction design.

Skills: Use of IT (T/F, A), Problem Solving (T/F, A), Working with Others (T/F, A), Communication (A).

Content: Content will cover a range of topics in human-computer interaction and user experience. Examples of topics include:
* General foundations of Human-Computer Interaction
* Human perception as it relates to the design and use of interactive systems
* Human cognition and performance
* Task analysis
* Models of interaction (e.g. gulfs of execution and evaluation)
* Usability - introduction to the concept and principles
* Principles of user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design
* Prototyping techniques
* Qualitative and quantitative data evaluation techniques
* Virtual, augmented and mixed reality user interfaces
* Human-robot interaction and interaction with machine intelligence
* HCI in industry (UX)
* HCI in research.

Programme availability:

CM20319 is Compulsory on the following programmes:

Department of Computer Science
  • USCM-AFB06 : BSc(Hons) Computer Science (Year 2)
  • USCM-AAB07 : BSc(Hons) Computer Science with Study year abroad (Year 2)
  • USCM-AKB07 : BSc(Hons) Computer Science with Year long work placement (Year 2)
  • USCM-AFM01 : MComp(Hons) Computer Science (Year 2)
  • USCM-AAM02 : MComp(Hons) Computer Science with Study year abroad (Year 2)
  • USCM-AKM02 : MComp(Hons) Computer Science with Year long work placement (Year 2)
Department of Electronic & Electrical Engineering
  • UEEE-AFB13 : BEng(Hons) Computer Systems Engineering (Year 2)
  • UEEE-AKB13 : BEng(Hons) Computer Systems Engineering with Year long work placement (Year 2)
  • UEEE-AFM13 : MEng(Hons) Computer Systems Engineering (Year 2)
  • UEEE-AKM13 : MEng(Hons) Computer Systems Engineering with Year long work placement (Year 2)

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2021/22 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2022/23 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2021/22.
  • Programmes and units are subject to change 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.
  • Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.