Description

Computers have evolved from batch processors towards highly interactive systems. This offers new possibilities but also challenges for the successful design of the interaction between human and computer.  Interactive system are socio-technical systems in which users perform tasks by interacting with technology in a specific context in order to achieve specified goals and outcomes.

The aim of this course is to introduce advanced concepts and theories, interaction technologies as well as current practice of contemporary interactive systems.

The course is complemented with a design capstone project, where students in a team select and apply design methods & techniques in order to create an interactive prototype

Learning objectives

• Get an advanced understanding of conceptual foundations of interactive systems from a human and computer perspective

• explore the theoretical grounding of Interactive Systems leveraging theories from reference disciplines such as psychology

• know specific design principles for the design of advanced interactive systems

• get hands-on experience in conceptualizing and designing advanced Interactive Systems to solve a real-world challenge from an industry partner by applying the lecture contents.

Prerequisites

No specific prerequisites are required for the lecture

Advanced information and communication technologies make interactive systems ever-present in the users’ private and business life. They are an integral part of smartphones, devices in the smart home, mobility vehicles as well as at the working place in production and administration (e.g. in the form of dashboards).

With the continuous growing capabilities of computers, the design of the interaction between human and computer becomes even more important. The aim of this course is to introduce the foundations, theoretical grounding, key concepts and principles as well as current practice of interactive systems. The contents of the course abstract from the technical implementation details. The students get the necessary knowledge to guide the successful implementation of interactive systems in business and private life.

The lecture bases to a large extend on

· Benyon, D. (2014). Designing interactive systems: A comprehensive guide to HCI, UX and interaction design (3. ed.). Harlow: Pearson.

Additional literature will be provided in the lecture.

· Basics

· Theoretical foundations

· Key concepts and design principles for specific interactive systems classes

· Capstone project

The students

· know what interactive systems are and how they can be conceptualized

· explore the theoretical grounding of interactive systems leveraging theories from reference disciplines such as psychology

· know key concepts and design principles of specific classes of interactive systems (e.g. assistance, behavior change systems)

· get hands-on experience by analyzing existing interactive systems and suggesting enrichments based on the lecture contents.