CS260 Research Topics in Human-Computer Interaction Syllabus

Jennifer Manko (510) 643 4205 jmanko@cs.berkeley.edu January 21, 2003

Course Description

What is Research in Human Computer Interaction? This question will be the focal point of our studies over the course of the coming semester. CS 260, or Research Topics in Human-Computer Interaction, will focus on a mixture of research methods and research topics in Human Computer Interaction (HCI) this semester. This is a project-based course, with a heavy reading component. For the purposes of this class, we will break HCI up into three domains: Tools and Techniques, Evaluation, and Design. Approximately a third of the semester will be spent on each area. You will learn about research methods in each of them, and pick two areas in which to do your projects. You will be expected to keep a diary of research ideas and select one of them to explore in depth over the course of the semester. You will learn to read, skim, critique, summarize, and present research papers in the area of HCI. You will be asked to defend and present your work in writing and orally. You should leave with a thorough understanding of how to pick and judge research in Human Computer Interaction.

Learning Goals
Research read, skim, summarize, and evaluate a paper present work orally write about your work generate a research proposal nd gaps in existing work conduct a literature survey constructively critique your peers HCI know the strengths and weaknesses and history of HCI tools and interaction techniques HCI evaluation techniques HCI design methods/areas design and evaluate a system or technique or tool. Research in HCI raise the oor/lower the ceiling/change the path of least resistance evolve a new evaluation technique select an area and design in/for that area. Contribute to knowledge about design

The learning goals of this class are as follows:

Requirements

A required prerequisite for this class is CS160 or an equivalent class or experience with user interface design, development, and evaluation. Most of the students in the class will be graduate computer science students. If you feel partially but not completely prepared (i.e. you have experience designing and evaluating a user interface but perhaps have not covered all of the material in a standard HCI class formally), this is 1

a page of suggested background readings put together for a similar class by Saul Greenberg at UCalgary. http://pages.cpsc.ucalgary.ca/~saul/681/background-readings.html Look at it, and then contact the instructor. If you are a graduate student in HCI, buy some of these books you should own them and know them (especially The Design of Everyday Things, Readings in HCI: Towards... and at least one of the standard textbooks). Additionally, the entire Lewis & Rieman book is available online for a shareware fee of $5. You will be expected to actively participate in lectures, and complete readings ahead of time. I will promptly return graded homework to you, and will be available to provide feedback and help with problems. This class will require approximately the following time commitment: 8.5 hours each week including 3 hours a week of class time. Approximately 12 hours of additional individual assignments spread throughout the semester. Additionally individual assignments may be added as the semester goes on. Weekly activities 3 or more hours Research Project 3 hours Class time (1.5 hours discussion, 1.5 hours lecture, review, excersizes and so on) 2 hours Reading papers (2-3 per week, pluss summarization) 30 minutes Diary Semesterly activities 4 hours Skim an entire conference proceedings and write rst paper critique 5 hours Literature survey for project 1 4 hours Research proposal for project 2 1 hours Prepare to lead lecture You should familiarize yourself with the class website (http://http://www.cs.berkeley.edu/projects/ io/courses/cs260/spring2003/) and Swiki (http://kettle.cs.berkeley.edu/cs260-spring-03). To access the Swiki, enter cs260 as a user name and student as a password. Most of your assignments will be turned in here, and you should make a page for yourself as demonstrated in class.

Contacting Me

I will hold regular oce hours, Thursday from 11am-12pm. I prefer phone to email. If you send me an email, it should only contain yes or no questions. Please do not send me any attachments. Instead, send me a URL or plain text. Students with disabilities should contact me to discuss any accommodations that are necessary I will keep you informed about important announcements by posting them on the Swiki announcements page (See http://kettle.cs.berkeley.edu/cs260-spring-03). You should add yourself to the list of people who should be notied when that page changes by editing the page and putting you email address in the box labelled Send e-mail alerts to these addresses upon next save:.

Assessment and Expectations

CS260 includes both group and individual assignments. Much of the grading in this class is qualitative, including assessments of the end user experience of the system and the quality of your designs, evaluations, and prototypes. You will be expected to read papers regularly, and to turn in questions about the readings on the day before the class in which they will be discussed. You will be expected to keep a diary of research ideas, making entries at a minimum on a weekly basis. You will be asked to select two research ideas to work on alone, or in a small group, as your major eorts during the semester. In the rst project, you will focus on execution of a research plan. In the second, you will focus on development of a research plan. You will be asked to defend these ideas, write about them, implement them, and present them at various times during the semester. 2

 You will be expected to lead one discussion in class. There will be one examination. Assignments will be turned in on the Swiki (http://kettle.cs.berkeley.edu/cs260-spring-03). Group assignments may not be turned in late. Individual assignments will lose one grade point per day they are late. Working in groups is a responsibility and a burden, due to the need to work out group dynamics. You will be asked to self-assess multiple times during the semester. Please be critical, as it is crucial to catch problems early. Cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated. Grading will not be on a curve. Your grade will be a combination of: nal (15%) individual assignments (20%) project 1 (30%) project 2 (20%) in class participation (5%) diary (5%) preparedness (questions, etc) (5%) This course has no textbook, but you will be expected to make use of the Berkeley library to access papers from the ACM digital library and other online resources. Should you conduct user evaluations, you may wish to oer your users incentives to participate in your evaluations, such as food or a gift certicate. This expense is your choice and your responsibility.

Additional Information

We expect to include at most 25 students in this class. Although we are open to various backgrounds, the vast majority of students will be Computer Science graduate students who are knowledgable about HCI. Students who do not have this backround will have to speak with the instructor to determine whether they will be able to succeed in the class.

Calendar
Goals

This calendar is tentative and subject to change. Week Topic Wk 1 (J21/23) Introduction to class/Research in HCI Tools and Techniques Wk 2 (J28/30) UI organization; Interaction Techniques Wk 3 (F4/6) Interface Attachements, Fluid Documents, Mercator and other toolkit hacks Wk 4 (F11/13) Tangible Computing; Interacting with Paper Wk 5 (F18/20) Change Blindness; Peripheral Displays Wk 6 (F25/27) Recognition; Ambiguity Evaluation Wk 7 (M4/6) Research Methods; GOMS Wk 8 (M11/13) Fitts Law; Ethnography Wk 9 (M18/20) Heuristic Evaluation; Spring Break Design Wk 10 (A1/3) Design Wk 11 (A8/10) ***CHI*** Wk 12 (A15/17) Research Methods; Visual Design Wk 13 (A22/24) Sound Design; Sketching and Prototyping Wk 14 (A29/M1) Direct Manip vs Inter Agents; Two Handed Interaction Wk 15 (M6/8) Other Topics Wk 16 (M13) Wrapup M20 8-11am Final Exam

Select Project 1 Initial Lit Review

Writeup of Project 1

Initial Literature Survey for Project 2 Initial Proposoal & Critique Revised Proposal & Critique Revised Lit Survey

Writeup of Project 2