Authorised by Academic Registrar, April 1996
Objectives At the completion of this subject students should know the more important concepts of cognitive science relevant to interface design and computer system use; understand contemporary directions in the evolution of interface design; be able to design system structures and interfaces appropriate to the environment in which they will be used; and appreciate how to evaluate their own and others' interface designs.
Synopsis Human perception: vision, colour perception and colour blindness; movement perception. Human information processing: cognitive limits on human information processing; models of human information processing; cognitive models of computer systems; superstitious behaviour and the use of computer systems; how humans learn to use computer systems. The `active user': input and output devices in the light of human skills and limitations. Data processing professionals and end-users: differing psychological characteristics; the impact of extensive computing experience on interface design. Designing interfaces: the principles of systems and screen design reviewed. Guidelines for the design of interfaces, the checklist of popular design errors, where guidelines fail; why bad interfaces succeed. Testing and costing interfaces and setting interface standards: principles of testing, evaluating (and re-evaluating) test results; modifying systems after testing; modifying enterprise standards.
Assessment Written (2000 words): 17% + Examination (3 hours): 50% + Other assessment: 33%