Computer Science (COMP) 482

Overview

This course teaches students to design user interfaces based on the capabilities of computer technology and the needs of human factors. Students design a user interface for a system and implement a prototype from a list of informal requirements. The project is developed over three assignments by a design process based on current human–computer interaction principles.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the course, Students will be able to:

1. Explain the capabilities of both humans and computers from the viewpoint of human information processing.
2. Describe typical human–computer interaction (HCI) models, styles, and various historic HCI paradigms.
3. Apply an interactive design process and universal design principles to designing HCI systems.
4. Describe and use HCI design principles, standards and guidelines.
5. Analyze and identify user models, user support, socio-organizational issues, and stakeholder requirements of HCI systems.
6. Discuss tasks and dialogs of relevant HCI systems based on task analysis and dialog design.
7. Analyze and discuss HCI issues in groupware, ubiquitous computing, virtual reality, multimedia, and Word Wide Web-related environments.

Outline

Unit 1: Foundations of Human–Computer Interaction

• Section 1: Human Capabilities
• Section 2: The Computer
• Section 3: The Interaction
• Section 4: Paradigms

Unit 2: The Design Process

• Section 1: Interaction Design Basics
• Section 2: HCI in the Software Process
• Section 3: Design Rules
• Section 4: Universal Design

Unit 3: Implementation Support

• Section 1: Implementation Tools

Unit 4: Evaluation and User Support

• Section 1: Evaluation
• Section 2: User Support

Unit 5: Users Models

• Section 1: Cognitive Models
• Section 2: Socio-organizational Issues and Stakeholder Requirements

Unit 6: Task Models and Dialogs

• Section 1: Analyzing Tasks
• Section 2: Dialog Notations and Design

Unit 7: Groupware, Ubiquitous Computing, Virtual and Augmented Reality, Hypertext and Multimedia

• Section 1: Groupware and Computer-supported Collaborative Work
• Section 2: Ubiquitous Computing
• Section 3: Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality
• Section 4: Hypertext, Multimedia and the World Wide Web

Evaluation

To receive credit for COMP 482, you much achieve a course composite grade of at least “D” (50 percent), including a grade of 50 percent on the final examination and a grade of at least 50 percent on each of the assignments. The weighting of the composite grade is as follows:

Assignment 1	Assignment 2	Assignment 3	Exam	Total
25%	25%	20%	30%	100%

The final examination for this course must be taken online with an AU-approved exam invigilator at an approved invigilation centre. It is your responsibility to ensure your chosen invigilation centre can accommodate online exams. For a list of invigilators who can accommodate online exams, visit the Exam Invigilation Network.

To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University's online Calendar.

Course Materials

Textbooks

Special Course Features

The remainder of the learning materials for Computer Science 482 are distributed in electronic format. Those materials will include:

• Computer Science 482 Study Guide.
• Detailed descriptions of the requirements for the individual tutor-marked exercises.
• A course evaluation form is on the World Wide Web.

Additional supporting materials of interest to students of Computer Science 482 may occasionally be made available electronically. COMP 482 is offered by computer mediated communications (CMC) mode and can be completed at the student's workplace or home. Students are expected to supply their own software for their projects.

Challenge for Credit Course Overview

The Challenge for Credit process allows students to demonstrate that they have acquired a command of the general subject matter, knowledge, intellectual and/or other skills that would normally be found in a university level course.

Full information for the Challenge for Credit can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.

• Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Policy
• Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Procedures

Challenge Evaluation

To receive credit for the COMP 482 challenge registration, you must achieve a grade of at least "D" (50 per cent) on the examination and "D" (50 per cent) on the project.

Project	Exam	Total
50%	50%	100%

Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Course Registration Form

• Challenge for Credit Form