CS410/CS635 Human Factors Winter 97

Richard Halstead-Nussloch, Ph.D.

Text | Class Notices | Questions & Answers | Quote | Objectives | Class Schedule | Software | Projects & Assignments | Class Attendance | Graded Work | Policies | Hyperlinks | Reading

Text

Return to the top of the syllabus

Class Notices:

• Have a good term!

Return to the top of the syllabus

Students' Questions, Professor's Answers

Return to the top of the syllabus

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."

Return to the top of the syllabus

Course Objectives

• Define and discuss major cognitive, perceptual, and ergonomic issues of use, user comfort, interaction styles, etc.
• State major limits on human capabilities pertinent to computing and the major implications of these limits for computer and software design.
• Analyze the target population of a proposed system and design effectively for those users.
• Understand the cycles of interaction involved within the user(1), within the system(2), and throughout the human/system interface(3).
• Develop and refine software engineering project paradigms to reflect the Human Factors' goals.
• Articulate design strategies and principles for the user interface (UI).
• Design a prototype graphical user interface (GUI) for an interactive system.
• Evaluate the graphical user interface (GUI) using the Usability Lab.
• Incorporate human factors and ergonomics into computer software development projects.
• Know limits on one's ergonomics knowledge and where to access further information and expertise in the area of computer ergonomics.

Return to the top of the syllabus

Class Schedule

Date	Topic/Event	Chapter(s)
Jan 11	Lecture/Discussion Exercise: What is Human Factors? (5%)	1, 2
Jan 18	Lecture/Discussion Exercise: Physical Ergonomics (5%)	3-6 Plus Design Strategies
Jan 25	Lecture/Discussion	7-10 Plus html
Feb 1	Lecture/Discussion Exercise: Cognitive Ergonomics (5%) Begin Web Development Exercise	29-34 Plus
Feb 8	Midterm Exam (15%) Lecture/Discussion, Final Project Proposal (5%)	11-16 Plus
Feb 12	LAST DAY TO DROP
Feb 15	Lecture/Discussion Exercise: User Analysis (5%)	17-22 Plus
Feb 22	Lecture/Discussion Exercise: User Interface Design (5%)	23-28 Plus
Mar 1	Exercise: Usability Testing (5%), Review, and Project Workshop
Mar 8	Project Workshop
Mar 15	Project Presentations (Mandatory Attendance)
Mar 18	Final Project Report Due on or before 8:00 PM (15%)
Mar 18	Final Exam 8:10-10:10 PM (10%)	all

Return to the top of the syllabus

Software Used to Support Class

• Microsoft ^tm Visual Basic ^tm
• Microsoft ^tm Windows ^tm 95
• html

Return to the top of the syllabus

Useful Hyperlinks

• NCSA Beginner's Guide to HTML
• HCI Web Site from Queen Mary and Westfield College, University of London
• Iowa State University Architecture Technology Lab's Hyperlinks on the ADA (From Patrick Cannoles)

Return to the top of the syllabus

Projects and Assignments

• Human Factors Problem Identification Exercise.
• Human Factors Problem Analysis - Physical Ergonomics.
• Human Factors Problem Analysis - Cognitive Ergonomics.
• User Analysis
• HTML or Microsoft ^tm Visual Basic ^tm Programming - UI Prototyping Exercise.
• Usability Test Exercise.
• Final Project Proposal.
• Final Project Report and Presentation Guidelines.

Return to the top of the syllabus

Grading

• Participation and Contribution to Class 25% (635) 10% (410)
• Exams 25% (635) 30% (410)
  • Midterm @ 15% (BOTH)
  • Final @ 10% (635) 15% (410)
• Exercises 30% (BOTH)
  • What is Human Factors? @ 5%
  • Physical Ergonomics @ 5%
  • Cognitive Ergonomics @ 5%
  • User Analysis @ 5%
  • UI Design and Prototyping @ 5%
  • Usability Evaluation @ 5%
• Final (Team) Project 20% (635) 30% (410)
  • Proposal @ 5% (BOTH)
  • Report and Presentation @ 15% (635) 25% (410)

Return to the top of the syllabus

Policies

1. No make-up examinations except for documented emergencies.
2. All work assigned to be turned in is due at the beginning of the class.
3. Work turned in late will be accepted, but at a grade discount. Multiple late assignments will result in additional discount applied to your final course grade.
4. Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated.

Return to the top of the syllabus

Class Attendance

Your class participation and contribution will account for 25% (635) or 10% (410) 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.

Return to the top of the syllabus

Reading Strategy

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.

Return to the top of the syllabus