NDAK16008U User Interface Technology (UIT)

Volume 2016/2017
Education

MSc programme in Computer Science.

Content

The course gives participants an understanding of technologies for user interfaces, focusing on emerging interaction styles and new hardware. Participants will learn drawbacks and benefits of user interface technologies for different tasks and use contexts. In addition, they will learn about current research challenges for user interface technology.  

The course will contain advanced material on user interface software and technology and on interaction styles. We will discuss the following topics:

  • Overview of classic models of interaction (GUI and WIMP interfaces) and classic interaction styles (direct manipulation).
  • Models of user interfaces and interaction, including post-WIMP interfaces (van Dam, 1997), reality-based interfaces (Jakob et al., 2008) and instrumental interaction (Beaudouin-Lafon, 2000).
  • Emerging interaction styles such as gesture-based interaction, augmented reality, physical computing.
  • New hardware for interaction, for instance technologies for sensing (e.g., tracking of persons and objects, wearable sensors), tangible interfaces.
Learning Outcome

Knowledge:

  • directions in user interface technology and their relation to GUI and WIMP interfaces,
  • advantages and disadvantages of particular user interface technologies.

 

Skills:

  • apply techniques for sketching user experiences,
  • design and build prototypes in hardware and software of user interface technology.

 

Competences:

  • use sketching to develop and discuss ideas about a particular application of user interface technology,
  • do practical work with user interface technology in hardware and software.

See Absalon when the course is set up.

Programming skills corresponding to those obtained with a bachelor in Computer Science or equivalent are expected.
This course will alternate between classroom discussions of key papers on user interface technology and lab classes, which focus on introducing user interface technology and having students develop prototypes.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Exam
  • 1
  • Lectures
  • 24
  • Practical exercises
  • 24
  • Preparation
  • 32
  • Project work
  • 125
  • Total
  • 206
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Oral examination, 20 min
Oral examination based on a group project report. The report should describe and reflect on the design and implementation of an interaction device or technique.
Exam registration requirements

To qualify for the exam, students must hand in a report based on their project. 

Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
Several internal examiners.
Re-exam

Oral exam, 20-minutes, based on the project report. The report must be resubmitted no later than two weeks before the re-exam, for the student to qualify for the re-exam. 

Criteria for exam assesment

In order to earn the grade 12, students must demonstrate the knowledge, skills and competences described in the intended learning outcomes.