NDAK13004U User Interface Technology

Volume 2013/2014
Education
MSc Programme in Computer Science
MSc Programme in IT and Cognition (HUM)
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 visualization, multi-touch interaction, 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.
  • Software tools and platforms for prototyping user interface technology.
Learning Outcome

Knowledge: The student should be able to (a) account for directions in user interface technology and their relation to GUI and WIMP interfaces, (b) identify and discuss advantages and disadvantages of particular user interface technology.

Skills: The student should be able to (a) apply techniques for sketching user experiences, (b) do practical work with user interface technology in hardware and software.

Competencies: The students should be able to (a) use sketching to develop and discuss ideas about a particular application of user interface technology, (b) design and build prototypes in hardware and software of user interface technology.

Literature
See Absalon when the course is set up.
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
  • Lectures
  • 30
  • Practical exercises
  • 120
  • Preparation
  • 62
  • Project work
  • 200
  • Total
  • 412
Credit
15 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.
Students must also hand in a report for each of five lab exercises; each must be approved.
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
External censorship
Re-exam
Oral 20 min. exam based on project.
Criteria for exam assesment
See learning outcome.