Text | Class Notices | Questions & Answers | Quote | Objectives | Class Schedule | Class Activity Map | Software | Projects & Assignments | Class Attendance | Graded Work | Policies | Hyperlinks | Feedback | Reading
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Class Notices:
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Students' Questions, Professor's Answers
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Dr. Rich ... On Human Factors
"Human Factors, ergonomics, and usability are
best known by the instances where they are poor. Rare indeed
is the user interface, product, or process that is lauded for
its good ergonomics. Rather, products and even organizations
will be cursed for poor human factors, and that is how people
will know and understand human factors. The best user interface
is one that is not noticed, much as the controls of your automobile
after the first week or so of driving it."
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Course Objectives
Upon successful completion of the course, each student will be able to:
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Class Schedule
| Date | Topic/Event | Chapter(s) |
| June 30 | Lecture/Discussion Exercise: What is Human Factors? (5%) Final Project Requirements | 1, 2 |
| July 7 | Lecture/Discussion Exercise: Physical Ergonomics (5%) | 3-6 Plus Design Strategies |
| July 14 | Lecture/Discussion | 7-10 Plus html |
| July 21 | Lecture/Discussion Exercise: Cognitive Ergonomics (5%) Begin Last Three Exercises | 29-34 Plus |
| July 28 | Midterm Exam Lecture/Discussion, Final Project Proposal (5%) | 11-16 Plus |
| July 31 | LAST DAY TO DROP | |
| Aug 4 | Lecture/Discussion User Analysis, Exercise: User Analysis (5%), Example User Analysis Memo | 17-22 Plus |
| Aug 11 | Lecture/Discussion, User Interface Design, Exercise: User Interface Design (5%) | 23-28 Plus |
| Aug 18 | Exercise: Usability Testing (5%), Example Usability Test Report Outline, Review, and Project Workshop | |
| Aug 25 | Project Workshop, Project Presentations (Mandatory Attendance) | |
| Sep 1 | No Class--Labor Day | |
| Sep 3 | Final Project Report Due on or before 6:00 PM | |
| Sep 3 | Final Exam 6:00-8:00 PM | all |
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Class Activity Map
| Activity Type | Goal or Destination | Comments | |
| Ongoing | Reading, web searching, etc. | Master half the text or more | |
| Ongoing | Discussion/Class Contribution | Use the knowledge | |
| Ongoing | Networking with the class | Synergy, Jobs | |
| Ongoing | Work on your final project | Start the final step on day one | |
| Hand in | Human factors problem identification --Learn the limits on human capability and how they are exceeded | First step | |
| Hand in | Human factors problem analysis/solution-- Physical ergonomics --Learn the physical limits on human capability and how they are used in design | Second step | |
| Hand in | Human factors problem analysis/solution-- Cognitive ergonomics --Learn the limits and profiles of human cognitive capabilities and how they are used in design | Second step | |
| Exam | Mid-term exam to demonstrate acquisition and memorization of book knowledge and procedural knowledge about human factors and HCI | Checkpoint | |
| Hand in | User analysis for a system you are currently using or designing--Practice user profile/preference research, task analysis, usability requirements gathering, etc. | Third step, but start early | |
| Hand in | User interface design/prototype for a system you are currently using/improving or designing--Practice moving from user analysis to UI design and prototyping | Fourth step | |
| Hand in | Usability evaluation of a user interface design/prototype for a system you are currently using/improving or designing--Practice evaluation of the usability of a UI design/prototype | Fifth step | |
| Presentation Demo | Group Final Project-- Presentation on the (status of) the HF design of a UI design/prototype for a significant system your group is currently using/improving or designing--Practice presentation and demonstration, much like those required in business today | ||
| Exam | Final exam to demonstrate acquisition and memorization of book knowledge and procedural knowledge about human factors and HCI | Checkpoint, organization, consolidation | |
| Report | Group Final Project-- Report on the product, process, activities, the HF design, the UI design/prototype for a significant system your group is currently using/improving or designing--Practice reporting, much like those required in business today | ||
| Prototype Code | Group Final Project-- A first-iteration (or beyond) prototype of a significant system your group is currently using/improving or designing--Practice doing what is required in business today | Final step |
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Software Used to Support Class
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Useful Hyperlinks
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Projects and Assignments
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Grading
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Policies
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Class Attendance
Your class participation and contribution will account for 25%
of your grade. Since one cannot participate in and contribute
to class without attending, attendance is recommended. Regardless
of attendance, each student is individually responsible for keeping
up with materials and information from each class period. This
means it is up to the student to arrange with another class member,
obtaining notes, handouts, etc., from any class meeting, or portion
thereof, missed.
NOTE: All students are expected to attend the final project presentation
sessions. Any un-excused absences during this period
will result in the loss of a whole letter grade from your final
course grade.
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There is a lot to read in this class. Students are expected to have skimmed all materials for each Lecture/Discussion session. Then, concentrate your close reading on the selections identified in the Lecture/Discussion session as high-priority material.