Purpose of the projects:
To gain in depth experience applying selected usability design
and evaluation methodologies to an application area that fits your
interests. The expected outcomes are:
- A record of the design process leading to a potentially usable
design.
- An implemented prototype and an empirical usability evaluation
of this prototype. (The prototye can be implemented in a programming
language, a web server, or in other interactive technologies.)
- A better understanding of how to apply the methodologies we
have been studying, and of which methodologies fit your working
style and chosen design problem.
Suitable Projects
I will consider a wide range of projects, including standard GUI
applications, web-based systems, embedded systems, handheld devices,
immersive environments ... anything that involves a human-computer
interface in the broadest sense is potentially OK. You can design
a human-computer system from scratch, or improve upon an existing
system. In defining the scope of your project you should consider
the fact that you will have about 8 weeks for the design, prototype,
and evaluation.
Ideas for projects will be posted in disCourse.
I will not accept projects for which the design has already
been determined. You need to have both the willingness and the
authority to take the design in directions that you do not anticipate
from the outset (otherwise, what is the point?).
Project Groups
Group projects are strongly encouraged. You will
learn more, and if the project is effectively managed there will
be less work for everyone. If you cannot or will not work in a group,
you'll need to give me a good justification.
Groups can be 2 or 3 people. (Larger groups are more likely to
result in freeloading or disengagement. A strong justification is
needed for a larger group.)
You are responsible for forming project groups. A project discussion
area will be provided in which you can "advertise" for partners.
If you are having difficulties finding a parter then email me with
your project ideas or preferences and I will try to pair people
up.
How do we get started?
The project steps will appear in the form of assignments posted
here and in disCourse.
You should first find a partner and informally develop an idea.
The first project assignment will be a letter proposing a project
to your "boss." Subsequent assignments will step through
the major milestones of requirements analysis, activity design,
interface architecture, information/interaction design, prototyping,
and evaluation. (Adjustments will be made for the needs of individual
projects.)
You should save all your work as you go. The final report will
consist of a portfolio that is derived from this work, as well as
peer assessments of contributions. This portfolio and peer assessments
will constitute 50% of your grade.
Discussing and Submitting Project Assignments
Project assignments are similar to individual assignments: there
will be an assignment discussion where you can talk about the assignment
and submit your work.
Since these will be group assignemnts, I suggest that you use
your individual group discussion areas to post and discuss preliminary
versions of the work. You can discuss whether it is ready there,
and when it is read post it to the full course discussion for the
assignment.
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