DIPLOMA IN
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
MODULE LEARNING GUIDE
HUMAN COMPUTER INTERACTION
Version 1: May 2007
Olympia College
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Diploma In Information Technology
INTRODUCTION
Human-Computer interaction brings together users of all levels and technology in order to accomplish
tasks. It (HCI) involves the processes to interact with a computer in any given environment. HumanComputer Interfaces allow users to input an instruction to the computer. In turn, the computer should
provide a response to the user's input. Through input devices and output devices such as displays, the
user is able to see, hear, touch, and recognize the interaction.
Section 1: Foundations
Week 1. The human
Week 2. The computer
Week 3. The interaction
Week 4. Paradigms
Section 2: Design Process
Week 5. Interaction design basics
Week 6. HCI in the software process
Week 7. Design rules
Week 8. Implementation support
Week 9. Evaluation techniques
Week 10. Universal design
Week 11. User support
Section 3: Models and Theories
Week 12. Cognitive models
Week 13. Socio-organizational issues and stakeholder requirements
Week 14. Communication and collaboration models
This course provides an introduction to and overview of the field of human-computer interaction (HCI).
HCI is an interdisciplinary field that integrates theories and methodologies from computer science,
cognitive psychology, design, and many other areas. Course readings will span current theory and
practice in interface specification, design and evaluation, as well as current and classic research papers in
HCI. Students will work on both individual and team projects to design, implement and evaluate computer
interfaces. The course is open to students from all disciplines, providing them with experience working in
interdisciplinary design teams.
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AIMS
to encourage empirical research (using valid and reliable methodology, with studies of the methods
themselves where necessary);
to promote the use of knowledge and methods from the human sciences in both design and evaluation of
computer systems;
to promote better understanding of the relation between formal design methods and system usability and
acceptability;
to develop guidelines, models and methods by which designers may be able to provide better humanoriented computer systems;
to co-operate with other groups, inside and outside IFIP, so as to promote user-orientation and "humanization" in system design.
OVERVIEW OF THE SYLLABUS:
The module is organised into four major learning sections as outlined below:
3.1. SECTION 1: Foundations
This section starts with a basic overview of:
 Review of fundamental themes in User-Centered Design (UCD) and Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)
 Components of UCD and HCI
3.2. SECTION 2: Design Process
This section discusses about the following topics:
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Interaction design basics
HCI in the software process
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Diploma In Information Technology
Design rules and Implementation support
Evaluation techniques and Universal design
3.3. SECTION 3 Models and Theories
This section touches on:
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Cognitive models in users’ lives at all levels.
Socio-organizational issues and stakeholder requirements for system development projects
Communication and collaboration models
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LEARNING OUTCOMES
On completion of this module, students will be able to:
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Communication between human factors engineers and soon-to-be computer scientists on user interface
development projects is improved.
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The future user interface designer with concepts and strategies for making design decisions are
constructive.
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Expose the future user interface designer to tools, techniques, and ideas for interface design provides the
opportunity to refine skills in usability.
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Introducing HCI literature to students will form future leaders of software design.
To stress the importance of good user interface design.
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AUDIENCE AND PRE-REQUISITES
This module is for students who are in the advance stages of the Diploma program. The prerequisite
required to undertake this module is Systems Analysis & Design or any subject related to user interface
design and software functionality such as Introduction to Website Design.
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LEARNING MATERIALS:
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Indicative Readings:
a. Human-Computer Interaction, 3rd edition, by Dix, Finlay, Abowd and Beale, Prentice Hall, 2004.
b. Newman, M. William, Interactive System Design, Addison Wesley, 1995.
c. User Centered Web Site Design, by D.D. McCracken and R.J. Wolfe. Pearson Prentice Hall: Upper
Saddle River, NJ, 2004. ISBN: 013041161-2.
d. The Web Wizard's guide to Web Design, J.G. Lengel, Addison-Wesley, 2002. ISBN: 0201745623.
e. http://www.hcibook.com/hcibook/links.html#chaps
f. http://www.hcibook.com/e3/resources/
7.
ASSESSMENT INSTRUMENTS:
The following is an outline of the various assessment instruments for this module:
7.1. ASSIGNMENT (20%)
An individual assignment will be given to the student on the first week and will have to be returned no
later than week 10.
Should the student fail to submit his/her assignment on week 10, the result will automatically be Zero.
7.2. PRESENTATION (20%)
The students need to present their assignment on week 10 in the form of a PowerPoint presentation or
any other presentation tools. Marks will be awarded based on the quality of the presentation, language
etc
7.3. FINAL EXAMINATION (60%)
Final Examination is included in this module. It seeks to determine participants’ individual effectiveness in
responding to specific questions under time-constrained invigilated conditions. The examination is a
closed book examination, requesting participants to demonstrate their knowledge and critical analysis
skills in responding to questions covering the module syllabus.
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7.4. ASSESSMENT TIMELINES
The coursework project is to be distributed to students by the end of Week 1 and its submission
deadline is no later than week 10. Presentation will be held no later than week 10. Final examinations
will be held at the end of the semester, which is on week 15
7.5. ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
Refer to assignment and final examination marking guide.
7.6. ASSESSMENT DESCRIPTOR
The following general principles should be used when marking and awarding grade:
Grade
Characteristics
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Excellent work which demonstrates that the student:
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Possesses an authoritative grasp of the concepts, methodology and content
appropriate to the subject and to the assessment
Above 70%
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Selects and organises material with consistent success at an exceptionally high
stage
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Is able to display originality and personal insight and is capable of expressing
their argument clearly, concisely and accurately.
The student demonstrates:
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An above average stage of understanding, organising, interpretation and a clear
grasp of methodology suitable focused on the topic
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An ability to synthesise material and to construct responses which reveal insight
60-69%
and may offer originality
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A grasp of material that enables a coherent response to the assessment task to
emerge
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An ability to generate work that is accurate and appropriately organised.
The student is able to cover basic subject matter but in a relatively unimaginative and
pedestrian manner. Organisation and presentation of material is acceptable but may
50-59%
display some weakness. Limitations in understanding and interpretation and difficulty in
linking to relevant material may be evident.
40-49%
The student’s performance is only just acceptable in most respects revealing some
inadequacies in the grasp of material, weak organising ability and limited communication
skills.
< 40%
The student’s performance is deficient revealing inadequate grasp of material, poor
organising ability and poorly developed communication skills.
8.
TOTAL HOURS:
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28 hours of direct lecture & tutorial sessions
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28 hours of lab sessions
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150 hours of self and independent study
9.
INSTRUCTIONAL PLAN AND RESOURCES
The base source of material to be used in the design of the teaching-learning schedule will be the print
based module material provided to both staff and students. Other resources will be included to supplement
and fill in gaps especially latest development or recent changes which are obviously not found in the module
material.
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CLASS LEARNING SCHEDULE
WEEK
LECTURE
Foundations of HCI
TUTORIALS / ACTIVITIES
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Explore and introduce HCI
Define and provide overview of HCI
Discuss its application is real – life.
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The Human
2
The Computer
Lecturing the topics on the importance of Information retrieval
and responses given via a number of input and output channels:
o visual channel
o auditory channel
o haptic channel
o movement
 Information is stored in memory:
 Information is processed and applied:
 Users share common capabilities but are individuals with
differences, which should not be ignored.
From pages 11 - 58
Lectures and activities are on the topics as well as chapters:
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Input devices for interactive use, allowing text entry and
drawing.
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Pointing: principally the mouse, but also touchpad, stylus, and
others
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Paper output and input: the paperless office and the lesspaper office:
Memory:
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short-term memory: RAM
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long-term memory: magnetic and optical disks
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The Interaction
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4
Paradigms
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INTERACTION DESIGN BASICS
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Mod Learning Guide: Human Computer Interaction
Interaction models help us to understand what is going on in
the interaction between user and system. They address the
translations between what the user wants and what the system
does.
Ergonomics looks at the physical characteristics of the
interaction and how these influence its effectiveness.
The dialog between user and system is influenced by the style
of the interface.
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Provide examples of effective strategies for building interactive
systems provide paradigms for designing usable interactive
systems.
The evolution of these usability paradigms also provides a
good perspective on the history of interactive computing.
These paradigms range from the introduction of time-sharing
computers, through the WIMP and web, to ubiquitous and
context-aware computing
Achieving the concepts of goals within constraints and tradeoff between these raw materials: computer and human
Accepting limitations of humans and of design.
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HCI IN THE SOFTWARE PROCESS
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Design Rules
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Implementation Support
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Evaluation Techniques
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UNIVERSAL DESIGN
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USER SUPPORT
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Cognitive Models
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Socio-organizational
issues
Stakeholder requirements
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Communication
Models
Expose students on Usability engineering that promotes the
use of explicit criteria to judge the success of a product in
terms of its usability.
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Exposure to Iterative design practices and critical decisions
which affect usability.
Design rules in the form of standards and guidelines provide
direction for design, in both general and more concrete terms, in
order to enhance the interactive properties of the system.
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The essential characteristics of good design are often
summarised through 'golden rules' or heuristics.
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Design patterns provide a potentially generative approach to
capturing and reusing design knowledge.
Programming Aspect incorporated into HCI
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Programming tools for interactive systems provide a means of
effectively translating abstract designs and usability principles
into an executable form. These tools provide different levels of
services for the programmer.
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Windowing systems and workstations to support separate
user-system threads of action simultaneously.
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Interaction toolkits allowing the programmer to describe
behaviours of objects at a level similar to how the user
perceives them.
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analytic methods
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review methods
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Model-based methods.
Universal design is to teach students to design systems for anyone
in any circumstance.
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Multi-modal systems use more than one human input
channel. User support will be on:
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accurate and robust
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Consistent and flexible.
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presentation issues
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Implementation issues.
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Cognitive models represent users of interactive systems.
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Hierarchical models represent a user's task and goal
structure.
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Linguistic models represent the user-system grammar.
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Collaboration
Simulate human performance of cognitive skills. They have
been useful to HCI by predicting task times, by assisting
users, and by acting as surrogate users. If cognitive models
could interact with the same interfaces that users do, the
models would be easier to develop and would be easier to
apply as interface testers.
Socio-organizational
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Socio-technical models capture both human and technical
requirements.
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Soft systems methodology takes a broader view of human
and organizational issues.
Communication and Collaboration Models
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face-to-face communication involves eyes, face and body
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Conversation can be analyzed to establish its detailed
structure.
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Diploma In Information Technology
LEARNING SUGGESTIONS AND GUIDELINES
WEEK 1
Over the week of lecture and tutorial, the focus will be to undertake the following:
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To get started with HCI
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Fundamentals of HCI: The advantages and contribution of HCI
Learning outcomes to attain:
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Appreciating HCI
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Defining and using HCI
Readings and preparation to be undertaken by the student:
a)
Human-Computer Interaction, 3rd edition, by Dix, Finlay, Abowd and Beale, Prentice Hall, 2004.
Main reference text namely:
o Human-Computer Interaction, 3rd edition, by Dix, Finlay, Abowd and Beale, Prentice Hall, 2004.
o User-Centered System Design: new perspectives on human-computer interaction, D. Norman and
S. Draper (eds.); Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 1986.
o The Psychology of Everyday Things, D. Norman; Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 1986.
Further readings and activities to students based on the main reference:
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http://www.cc.gatech.edu/classes/AY2003/cs6750b_fall/syllabus.html (PowerPoint Slides)
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Designing the User Interface: Strategies for Effective Human-Computer-Interaction, B. Shneiderman;
Addison Wesley; 4th edition, 2004.
WEEK 2
Over the week of lecture and tutorial, the focus will be to undertake the following:
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To understand the structure of the computer
Learning outcomes to attain:
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Accessing computers for all ages
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Interacting with computers with ease
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Deeper understanding of computer design in terms of flexibility.
Readings and preparation to be undertaken by the student:
i.
Human-Computer Interaction, 3rd edition, by Dix, Finlay, Abowd and Beale, Prentice Hall, 2004.
ii.
Newman, M. William, Interactive System Design, Addison Wesley, 1995.
Visit the following websites for better understanding and study aids references:
http://www.usernomics.com/user-interface-design.html
WEEK 3
Over the week of lecture and tutorial, the focus will be to undertake the following:
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To understand the concept interaction design
Learning outcomes to attain:
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The ability to design interactive systems.
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Observes the principles of interactive systems
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Code walkthrough of operator application
Mod Learning Guide: Human Computer Interaction
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Olympia College
Diploma In Information Technology
Readings and preparation to be undertaken by the student:
G. D. Abowd and R. Beale. Users, systems and interfaces: A unifying framework for interaction. In D.
Diaper and N. Hammond, editors, HCI'91: People and Computers VI, pages 73-87. Cambridge
University Press, Cambridge, 1991.Visit: http://hci.stanford.edu/~winograd/acm97.html
R. Beale and J. Finlay, editors. Neural Networks and Pattern Recognition in Human-Computer
Interaction. Ellis Horwood, Chichester, 1992.
Main reference text namely:
Human-Computer Interaction, 3rd edition, by Dix, Finlay, Abowd and Beale, Prentice Hall, 2004.
Visit the following websites:
http://www.hcibook.com/e3/chaps/ch3/resources/
http://www.usernomics.com/usability.html
WEEK 4
Over the week of lecture and tutorial, the focus will be to undertake the following:
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To understand the context of Paradigm of HCI
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Apply strategies for building interactive systems
Learning outcomes to attain:
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To understand and apply strategies for building interactive systems in the real – world of design.
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To understand the principles of usability paradigms
Readings and preparation to be undertaken by the student:
a. Main reference text namely:
Interaction Design by Jenny Preece, Yvonne Rogers, and Helen Sharp. John Wiley & Sons: New York,
2002.
Human-Computer Interaction, 3rd edition, by Dix, Finlay, Abowd and Beale, Prentice Hall, 2004.
b. Visit the following websites for better understanding and study aids
Topical references:
http://arstechnica.com/articles/paedia/gui.ars/
http://unraveled.com/archives/2003/10/hci_as_science
WEEK 5
Over the week of lecture and tutorial, the focus will be to undertake the following:
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To find out how create interventions for usability
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Creating overall structures that are easy to understand and fit the users' needs
Learning outcomes to attain:
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Independent and skilled in interactivity.
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Test specific error conditions in design
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Applying Models to give good start points in design
Readings and preparation to be undertaken by the student:
a. Human-Computer Interaction, 3rd edition, by Dix, Finlay, Abowd and Beale, Prentice Hall, 2004.
b. http://www.useit.com/alertbox/20030825.html
Main reference text namely:

Human-Computer Interaction, 3rd edition, by Dix, Finlay, Abowd and Beale, Prentice Hall, 2004.

Designing Interfaces: Patterns for Effective Interaction Design. By Jenifer Tidwell. November 21, 2005
c.
Visit the following websites for better understanding and study aids
http://www.hcibook.com/hcibook/resource.html
Mod Learning Guide: Human Computer Interaction
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Diploma In Information Technology
WEEK 6 & 7
Over the week of lecture and tutorial, the focus will be to undertake the following:
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To learn how to use the software process.
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To apply design rules in software design.
Learning outcomes to attain:
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To understand the context of software engineering integrated into usability.
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Create user-defined functions and Sub procedures
Reminder
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Week 6: HCI in the Software Process.
Technical issues affect the as-built interface because the changes suggested during the iterative design
process.
Prototyping and RAD
Portability, consistency, and integrability with respect to the user interface
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Week 7: Design Rules. References these materials to plan for the lecture of Week 7:
http://www.usabilityfirst.com/websites/design.txl
Brinck, T. and Gergle, D. (1998). The design of banking websites: lessons from iterative design.
Proceedings of APCHI 98: Asia Pacific Computer Human Interaction Conference, Kanagawa, Japan, July
1998.
Dumas, Joseph S., and Janice C. Rdish. (1999). A Practical Guide to Usability Testing. Ablex Publishing
Corporation.
Readings and preparation to be undertaken by the student:
Bringing Design to Software © Addison-Wesley, 1996
Baecker, Ronald, Jonathan Grudin, William Buxton, and Saul Greenberg. Readings in Human-Computer
Interaction: Toward the Year 2000 (Second edition). San Francisco: Morgan Kaufmann, 1995.
Bang, Mollie. Picture This: Perception and Composition. Boston: Little Brown, 1991.
Main reference text namely:
Human-Computer Interaction, 3rd edition, by Dix, Finlay, Abowd and Beale, Prentice Hall, 2004.
Interface Oriented Design: With Patterns. By Ken Pugh. June 1, 2006.
http://www.complianceautomation.com/papers/incose_goodreqs.htm
Visit the following websites for better understanding and study aids. References:
http://www.startvbdotnet.com/language/methods.aspx
WEEK 8
Over the week of lecture and tutorial, the focus will be to undertake the following:
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To understand the purpose implementation support.
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To analyze the purpose of programming support tools.
Learning outcomes to attain:
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Know when to use programming toolkits to examine the outcome when each of component.
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Able to use usability guidelines and interface management systems.
Readings and preparation to be undertaken by the student:
www.cc.gatech.edu/classes/AY2004/cs6750_spring/lectures/ui-software.ppt
http://www.artima.com/lejava/articles/designprinciplesP.html
Reference text namely:
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Dix, J. Finlay, G. D. Abowd, R. Beale, Human-Computer Interaction, 3rd Edition, Pearson.
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Diploma In Information Technology
Preece, J., Rogers, Y. & Sharp, H. (2002) Interaction Design: Beyond Human-Computer Interaction. New
York, NY: John Wiley & Sons
Shneiderman, Ben, Designing the User Interface, Addison Wesley, 1998, Third Edition
Visit the following websites for better understanding and study aids. Topical references:
www.ifsm.umbc.edu/onlinecommunities
http://www.cs.utexas.edu/users/almstrum/cs370/elvisino/usaEval.html
WEEK 9
Over the week of lecture and tutorial, the focus will be to undertake the following:
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To understand the use and implementation of evaluation techniques.
Learning outcomes to attain:
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The ability to apply evaluation techniques in software design.
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To refine designs of software and systems with the use of evaluation techniques
Main reference text namely:

Human-Computer Interaction, 3rd edition, by Dix, Finlay, Abowd and Beale, Prentice Hall, 2004.
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Designing Interfaces: Patterns for Effective Interaction Design. By Jenifer Tidwell. November 21, 2005
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http://clerccenter.gallaudet.edu/stg/how-to-evaluate.html
For further reading and additional notes:
Faulkner, Christine, The Essence of Human-Computer Interaction, Prentice Hall, 1998
Readings and preparation to be undertaken by the student:
Main reference text namely:
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http://www.usabilityfirst.com/methods/index.txl
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http://www.usabilityfirst.com/methods/cogwalk.txl
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www.userdesign.com/usability_uem.html
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http://books.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=9200&page=16
WEEK 10 & 11
Over the week of lecture and tutorial, the focus will be to undertake the following:
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To understand the concept of event handling
Learning outcomes to attain:
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How to implement an event
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To know what is an event handler and the different types of event raiser / triggers
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Event declaration syntax
Readings and preparation to be undertaken by the student:
for Week 10: Universal Design
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Human-Computer Interaction, 3rd edition, by Dix, Finlay, Abowd and Beale, Prentice Hall, 2004.
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Pearrow, Mark. (2000). Web Site Usability Handbook. Charles River Media.
http://www.hcibook.com/e3/chaps/ch10/resources/
Readings and preparation to be undertaken by the lecturer for Week 11: User Support
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Human-Computer Interaction, 3rd edition, by Dix, Finlay, Abowd and Beale, Prentice Hall, 2004.

http://www.winwriters.com/articles/checklist/index.html
http://www.hcibook.com/e3/chaps/ch11/resources/
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Visit the following websites for better understanding and study aids. Topical references:
http://www.merges.net/theory/20010301.html
http://www.devcity.net/Articles/25/1/20020316.aspx
WEEK 12
Over the week (Week 12: Cognitive Models) of lecture and tutorial, the focus will be to undertake the
following:

To understand the purpose of Cognitive Models.
Learning outcomes to attain:

Understand the roles of Cognitive Models
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Appling the Cognitive Models
Readings and preparation to be undertaken by the student:
a. http://www.hcibook.com/e3/chaps/ch12/resources/
b. Main reference text namely:

Human-Computer Interaction, 3rd edition, by Dix, Finlay, Abowd and Beale, Prentice Hall, 2004.

http://www.cc.gatech.edu/computing/classes/cs6751_96_winter/handouts/GOMS.html
c. Topical references:
http://tip.psychology.org/newell.html
WEEK 13 & 14
Over the week of lecture and tutorial, the focus will be to undertake the following:
 To know how to analyze Socio-organizational Issues and Stakeholder Requirements.
 To know how to analyze Communication and Collaboration Models.
Learning outcomes to attain:

To understand the differences between Socio-organizational Issues
Requirements.

Gaining the knowledge of the Communication and Collaboration Models.
and
Stakeholder
Readings and preparation to be undertaken by the student:
Main reference text.
•
Human-Computer Interaction, 3rd edition, by Dix, Finlay, Abowd and Beale, Prentice Hall, 2004.
•
Pearrow, Mark. (2000). Web Site Usability Handbook. Charles River Media.
Main reference text namely:
Week 13: Socio-organizational Issues and Stakeholder Requirements
www.springerlink.com/index/p4j437l56w8u7412.pdf
http://www.hcibook.com/e3/chaps/ch13/resources/
Week 14: Communication and Collaboration Models
http://www.hcibook.com/e3/chaps/ch14/resources/
WEEK 15
FINAL EXAMINATION
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Mod Learning Guide: Human Computer Interaction
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