Human-Computer Interaction Course

Course Description

Are you ready to dive into the fascinating world of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and learn how to design user-friendly interfaces that truly resonate with people? This course, based on lessons 14-18 of CS6750: Human-Computer Interaction from Georgia Tech's Online Master of Science in Computer Science program, offers an in-depth exploration of the design life cycle and its crucial components.

You'll embark on a journey through the essential stages of interface design, starting with understanding user needs, brainstorming innovative solutions, creating prototypes, and evaluating their effectiveness. But that's not all – we'll also delve into the critical aspect of human subjects research, teaching you how to ethically interact with users to gather valuable insights and feedback.

This course goes beyond theory, equipping you with practical skills to conduct needfinding activities, manage effective brainstorming sessions, and create rapid prototypes. By the end, you'll have a comprehensive understanding of the design life cycle and be well-prepared to create interfaces that truly enhance the user experience.

What Students Will Learn

• The complete design life cycle: needfinding, brainstorming, prototyping, and evaluation
• Ethical considerations in HCI research and how to protect users' rights
• Techniques for gathering user requirements through surveys, interviews, and observation
• Effective brainstorming methods for generating innovative design ideas
• Creation of user personas, interaction timelines, and storyboards
• Various prototyping approaches, from low-fidelity to high-fidelity
• The importance of early user feedback in the design process
• How to conduct ethical human subjects research in both academic and industry settings

Prerequisites

No specific prerequisites are mentioned for this course. It appears to be designed as an introductory-level course, making it accessible to students with various backgrounds who are interested in HCI and interface design.

Course Content

• Introduction to the design life cycle
• Ethics in HCI research and user rights protection
• Needfinding and requirements gathering techniques
• Active needfinding methods (surveys, interviews, focus groups)
• Personal needfinding approaches (participant observation, apprenticeship)
• Observing organic user interactions
• Creating data inventories for user understanding
• Brainstorming techniques for individuals and groups
• Design exploration tools (user personas, storyboards)
• Prototyping spectrum and approaches
• Low-fidelity prototyping methods
• Multi-level prototyping
• The role of Institutional Review Boards in research
• Ethical considerations in industry HCI practices

Who This Course Is For

• Students interested in pursuing a career in UX/UI design
• Computer science students looking to specialize in Human-Computer Interaction
• Professionals wanting to transition into interface design roles
• Product managers seeking to improve their understanding of user-centered design
• Anyone curious about the process of creating user-friendly digital interfaces

Real-World Applications

• Designing intuitive and user-friendly interfaces for websites, mobile apps, and software
• Conducting user research to inform product development decisions
• Creating prototypes to test and validate design ideas before full implementation
• Improving existing products by applying user-centered design principles
• Collaborating effectively in cross-functional teams during the design process
• Ensuring ethical practices in user research and product development
• Enhancing user satisfaction and engagement with digital products
• Reducing development costs by identifying and addressing user needs early in the design process

Syllabus Overview

A detailed syllabus is not provided, but based on the course description, the main topics covered appear to be:

1. Introduction to the Design Life Cycle
2. Ethics in HCI Research
3. Needfinding and Requirements Gathering
4. Brainstorming Design Alternatives
5. Prototyping Techniques
6. User Rights and Privacy in HCI

Each of these topics likely corresponds to one or more lessons within the course structure.