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About course

DH2620 Human-Computer Interaction, Introductory Course 6.0 credits

Administer About course

This introductory Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) course presents an overview of human prerequisites and consequences of using information technology as a tool for solving work related tasks. User interface design is a central part of making an adequate cooperation between humans and technology, but there are few ready to use solutions. The course will present methods that help the designer to elicit user requirements and structure the design process as to make the users in focus. Above all the course will emphasize the importance of paying attention to user needs and cognitive functioning in order to design usable systems.

Course offering missing for current semester as well as for previous and coming semesters
Headings with content from the Course syllabus DH2620 (Spring 2013–) are denoted with an asterisk ( )

Content and learning outcomes

Course contents

Theoretical and practical aspects of the human cognitive capabilities and implications for the use of interactive computer systems. How usability design can support the user. Overview of theories of behavioural science and how they relate to design and use of interactive computer systems.

The students perform a small investigation relating to human-computer interaction.

The students learn to analyse user requirements, user interfaces and work situations and will be asked to suggest modifications of software.

The students are obliged to work independently and actively in parallel to the course schedule.

Intended learning outcomes

In this course you will train on approaching realistic and therefore partially formulated problems that involve both humans and technology.

After this course you will be able to practically:

● apply established methods for

  • identifying what characterizes an interactive products’ target group and use situation from a given design task
  • formulate realistic requirements for a given design task, through the analysis of the present situation (user studies, studies of existing technology, HCI theories)
  • design and judge alternative solution, as well as reason about their qualities and limitations in a group, based on literature, user studies and experience of other existing technologies
  • gestalt design with the help of different tools and materials, from paper sketches to digital interactive prototypes
  • evaluate your and others’ design with and without users, to support well grounded design decisions in HCI

● make design reflections as part of an iterative design process, and ground them in relevant HCI theories and methods

● communicate and present design properties of interactive artifacts for different stakeholders

● relate HCI theories and methods to other system development principles

● relate HCI theories and methods to economical factors.

Course disposition

No information inserted

Literature and preparations

Specific prerequisites

Single course students: 90 university credits including 45 university credits in Mathematics or Information Technology. Swedish B, or equivalent and English A, or equivalent.   

Recommended prerequisites

A course in computer science (e.g. DD1320, DD1345, DD1343, DD1344, DD1346).

Equipment

No information inserted

Literature

Meddelas senast 4 veckor före kursstart på kursens hemsida.

Examination and completion

If the course is discontinued, students may request to be examined during the following two academic years.

Grading scale

A, B, C, D, E, FX, F

Examination

  • PRO1 - Project, 3.0 credits, grading scale: P, F
  • UPP1 - Exercise, 3.0 credits, grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F

Based on recommendation from KTH’s coordinator for disabilities, the examiner will decide how to adapt an examination for students with documented disability.

The examiner may apply another examination format when re-examining individual students.

In this course all the regulations of the code of honor at the School of Computer science and Communication apply, see: http://www.kth.se/csc/student/hederskodex/1.17237?l=en_UK.

Opportunity to complete the requirements via supplementary examination

No information inserted

Opportunity to raise an approved grade via renewed examination

No information inserted

Examiner

Ethical approach

  • All members of a group are responsible for the group's work.
  • In any assessment, every student shall honestly disclose any help received and sources used.
  • In an oral assessment, every student shall be able to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution.

Further information

Course web

Further information about the course can be found on the Course web at the link below. Information on the Course web will later be moved to this site.

Course web DH2620

Offered by

Main field of study

Computer Science and Engineering

Education cycle

Second cycle

Add-on studies

DH2628 Interaction Design methods, IC1004 Cognitive Psychology.

Contact

Olga Viberg oviberg@kth.se

Supplementary information

The course cannot be counted in the degree if the student has taken course DH2624, IC1000 or DH1620.

This course is partly read together with the course DH2624.