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Human-Computer Interaction

Lecture 1

Syllabus and Class Introduction

Welcome!

• I'm glad you're here
• This is a Senior-level course
  • Expect you have study skills
  • Expect you have time-management skills
• We'll have lots of fun
  • It's always fun to critique! Smile :)

What You Were Expecting?

• Some technical information
• Apply "common sense" to our systems
• Also discuss "non-techie" topics
  • Human psychology
  • Cognition and memory
  • Interface design/aesthetics
  • Device affordances

A Taste Of What's to Come: Device Analysis

A video clip describing various devices and the ubiquity of computing.

• What does it mean to be "usable"
• Usable by whom?
  • Elderly
  • People with various backgrounds
• What hints of the object's "abilities" are evidenced from its shape?

Syllabus Information

• Instructor contact information
• Textbook information and readings
• Assignments
• Grading policy
• Academic misconduct and appropriate collaboration

Instructor Contact Information

Name: Jon A. Preston

Office: T-109

Office Hours: Tues & Thurs, 3-6pm

Phone: 770 960 4354

E-mail: jonpreston@mail.clayton.edu

Textbook

"The Design of Everyday Things" by Donald Norman. The textbook cover is white with a red coffee pot.

Assignments

  The process of doing assignments in this class works as follows:

 
1. Pre-class reading (skim) the material before coming to class.
 
2. Lecture Discussion of the material in class.
 
3. In-depth review reading after class.
 
4. Write an Essay on the material.
 
5. Discussion of the "best" essays in class.
 
6. At the end of the term, a Final exam tests your knowledge of these "best" essays

Notes

The idea here is to skim the relevant text material before coming to class. In this way, lecture discussion will be more meaningful to you, the student. After lecture, reread the material to be sure you have a thorough understanding. You are then enabled to complete your assigned essay. We will discuss various "best essays" in class, and then the final exam will pertain to your essays and those "best essays" as discussed in class. It is obviously to your advantage to write well, because if your essay is selected as the "best," this will be one less paper you will have to study for the exam!

Grading Policy

Historical Grade Distribution

Academic Misconduct

I expect (and hope for) you to collaborate freely amongst yourselves when discussing topics in this class.

With this in mind, your essays and test answers must be your answers. You may not collaborate in any fashion (not even "can you skim this and see if I missed anything" type e-mails) on your essays.

Any student who violates the university's academic misconduct rules will receive an F in the course.

Please speak with me and consult your student handbook if you have questions and for more information.

Questions?

OK - have a good weekend. I'll see you next week!