12 points, SCA Band 2, 0.250 EFTSL
Undergraduate - Unit
Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.
Faculty
Organisational Unit
Chief examiner(s)
Associate Professor Selby Coxon
Coordinator(s)
Unit guides
Synopsis
The aim of this unit is to engage the student in sophisticated concepts around understanding of the person to machine interface. This includes an appreciation of the core principles of anthropometrics, the concept of physical, semantic and cultural constraints. Mapping of control and feedback systems. Affordances and user centred issues around a series of physical and virtual problems. The unit examines the theoretical underpinning of the interaction of humans with objects and systems from anthropometry and the physical world to psychological constructions of how people interact with objects. Students are encouraged to apply theoretical learning with an experimental approach to problem solving. Project work is presented in folio format, documented for production. Final design proposals are also undertaken in detailed model or prototypical form where appropriate.
Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this unit students will be able to:
- Recognise and devise solutions to design problems that respond to the key theoretical principles of human-machine interface;
- Understand and apply principles of design constraints, mapping and affordances;
- Understand and apply principles of Graphic User Interface;
- Understand and apply principles of ergonomics;
- Understand and apply principles of the physical interaction between humans and objects.
Assessment
100% in-semester assessment
Workload requirements
24 hours per week including 8 contact hours plus 16 hours of independent study.
See also Unit timetable information