Module Details

The information contained in this module specification was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change, either during the session because of unforeseen circumstances, or following review of the module at the end of the session. Queries about the module should be directed to the member of staff with responsibility for the module.
Title HUMAN-CENTRIC COMPUTING
Code COMP106
Coordinator Dr A Hernich
Computer Science
Andre.Hernich@liverpool.ac.uk
Year CATS Level Semester CATS Value
Session 2016-17 Level 4 FHEQ Second Semester 15

Aims

  • To provide guidelines, concepts and models for designing and evaluating interactive systems.
  • To provide an introduction to designing and implementing graphical user interfaces.

  • Learning Outcomes

    identify or describe the tasks and issues, such as establishing requirements, developing designs, and implementing designs, which are involved in the process of developing efficient, effective, and safe interactive products for people, and the tools and techniques used to perform these tasks 
    identify or describe and compare different styles of interaction for graphical user interfaces
    evaluate and critique existing interactive systems, in accordance with human-centric principles, standards and guidelines for interface design, including usability, accessibility, and health and safety issues
    illustrate how event-driven software can be designed using standard, formal techniques
    construct Web pages that conform to current Web standards

    write Java programs that demonstrate simple examples of graphical user interfaces


    Syllabus

    1
    • Introduction (3 lectures)

    What is human-centric computing? Principles of Human Computer Interaction; the human in the loop; user models; cognitive issues.

    • The process of developing interactive products (7 lectures)

    Lifecycle models; requirements; data gathering involving users; task analysis; design; purpose of evaluation and methods for conducting it.

    Principles, standards and guidelines for interface design.  

    Case studies of development tasks in practice. 

    • Interactions (8 lectures)

    Interaction styles: key based, menu based, form fill-in, command languages, natural language, direct manipulation, iconic languages.

    Cultural considerations and constraints.

    Affective computing; virtual characters; groupware and cooperative activity.

    • Interface software design (4 lectures)

    Event-driven software, state transition diagrams, statecharts.

    • Implementing int erfaces (8 lectures)

    Overview of HTML and CSS; markup validation for Web standards.

    Graphical user interfaces in Java: the Java AWT and Swing packages, components of GUIs; events and event-handlers; the Model-View-Controller architecture; Java applets.


    Teaching and Learning Strategies

    Lecture -

    Laboratory Work -


    Teaching Schedule

      Lectures Seminars Tutorials Lab Practicals Fieldwork Placement Other TOTAL
    Study Hours 30

        10

        40
    Timetable (if known)              
    Private Study 110
    TOTAL HOURS 150

    Assessment

    EXAM Duration Timing
    (Semester)
    % of
    final
    mark
    Resit/resubmission
    opportunity
    Penalty for late
    submission
    Notes
    Unseen Written Exam  120  80  Yes  Standard UoL penalty applies  Written Exam Notes (applying to all assessments) 3 (sets of) assessment tasks. The assessment tasks will address the evaluation of interfaces, the construction of Web pages and the implementation of GUIs in Java. Not marked anonymously. Written examination is a 40 question multiple-choice exam. Resit exam will replace failed CA components, the Learning Outcomes will be covered in the resit exam.  
    CONTINUOUS Duration Timing
    (Semester)
    % of
    final
    mark
    Resit/resubmission
    opportunity
    Penalty for late
    submission
    Notes
    Coursework  30 hours expected fo  Yes  Standard UoL penalty applies  Assignment 1 
    Coursework  30 hours expected fo  Yes  Standard UoL penalty applies  Assignment 2 
    Coursework  30 hours expected fo  Yes  Standard UoL penalty applies  Assignment 3 

    Recommended Texts

    Reading lists are managed at readinglists.liverpool.ac.uk. Click here to access the reading lists for this module.
    Explanation of Reading List: