In case of questions, please contact Krishna (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) or Paulina (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

New in WS 2017/18: Part of this class is taught in a flipped classroom style in which you will be able to watch online videos of individual topics at your own pace, and then use the face-to-face time during the studio (formerly referred to as a lecture) time slot for group assignment/project work, Q&A and one-on-one feedback from the course's lecturers. We expect you to attend all studios and labs.


Videos of course content for WS 2017/18 are available on iTunes U.
L2P (Aachen) L2P (Bonn) iTunesU (iOS only) RSS Podcasts
(any device, needs iTunes app)

Announcements

  • December 11, 2017: Videos can now be accessed via Podcasts through the iTunes app on macOS or Windows.
  • October 16, 2017: Videos are available here.
  • October 16, 2017: The {file name="Declaration of compliance.pdf" desc="Declaration of Compliance"} is due on Monday, Oct. 23.
  • October 16, 2017: If you are a Media Informatics student taking the course in Bonn, you can find the registration guide here: {file name="Registration Guide (Bonn).pdf" desc="Registration Guide for Bonn"}.
  • October 4, 2017: If you are student from Aachen, please register for the Course (not for the Exercise) on Campus.
  • September 29, 2017: The first studio of WS 2017/18 in Aachen will take place on Wednesday, October 11 between 10:00–11:45h in AH III in Informatik Zentrum.
  • September 29, 2017: The first studio and lab of WS 2017/18 in Bonn will take place on Tuesday, October 24 between 13:00–16:30h in B-IT Main Lecture Hall.
  • July 26, 2017: Want to get a head start on this course? Start reading Don Norman's book "The Design of Everyday Things," a required read. You can order it on Amazon: Paperback (13.99€), Kindle Edition (7.99€). The contents of this book are relevant for your midterm exam.





Final Presentation Schedule



Course Schedule

Aachen

Bonn

About this Course

This class introduces students to the field of human-computer interaction (HCI) and user interface design. Specifically, the course covers the following topics:

  • Fundamental characteristics of human cognition, such as reaction time, rules of perception, and memory performance
  • Models of interaction between people and their environment, such as affordances, mappings, constraints, slips, and mistakes
  • Milestones in the history of human-computer interaction
  • Principles of iterative design
  • User interface prototyping techniques
  • User studies and evaluation methods
  • Golden rules of user interface design
  • User interface design notations


After this class, students will know how user interfaces have been developed over the past decades, and what constants of human performance need to be considered when designing them. This class forms the basis for the classes “ Designing Interactive Systems II ” (which looks at more technical aspects of user interface development) and “ Current Topics in HCI and Media Computing ”, as well as the “ Post-Desktop User Interfaces ” seminar and other courses from our research group. Students will be able to apply iterative design, prototyping, and evaluation methods to design usable, appropriate user interfaces in a user-centered fashion. All assignments are group assignments to foster collaboration skills, and project-based to strengthen project planning, conflict management and presentation skills. Learning to think in designers' terms is a crucial competence for computer scientists working on user interfaces, a job that requires collaboration in interdisciplinary teams.

Course Allocation

Fields of study:

  • Informatik (B.Sc.), (M.Sc.)
  • Media Informatics (M.Sc.)/Multimedia-Benutzung und -Wirkung/in Aachen (mandatory course)
  • Software Systems Engineering (M.Sc.)/Areas of Specialization/Media Computing and Interactive Systems
  • Technical Communication (B.Sc.) (mandatory course)


Number SWS: V3 + Ü2
ECTS Credits: 6
The lecture recordings are in English. All assignment submissions and exams must be written in English.


Lecturers

Timings

Aachen

Lab  Monday, 12:15–13:45h, 16.10.2017 onwards  Room 5053.2a/b 
Studio  Wednesday, 10:00–11:45h, 11.10.2017 onwards  Room 5053.2a/b 
Midterm Exam  Thursday, 14:00–16:30h (for 60 minutes), 23.11.2017  2350|009 (AH I) 
Final Exam  22.02.2018  TBA
2nd Chance Midterm Exam  22.03.2018  TBA
2nd Chance Final Exam  22.03.2018  TBA

TBA: To Be Announced

Bonn

Studio + Lab  Tuesday, 13:00–16:30h, 24.10.2017 onwards  Main Lecture Hall, B-IT Center Bonn 
Midterm Exam  Thursday, 14:00–16:00h (for 60 minutes), 23.11.2017  Main Lecture Hall, B-IT Center Bonn 
Final Exam  22.02.2018  Main Lecture Hall, B-IT Center Bonn 
2nd Chance Midterm Exam  22.03.2018  TBA
2nd Chance Final Exam  22.03.2018  TBA

TBA: To Be Announced


Grading

Your grade will be calculated as follows:

Scored Items
%
Assignments A01–04
20
Project
20
Midterm exam
25
Final exam
35


Reading Material


We highly recommend that you buy Norman's book, since you have to read it for class during the first few weeks. From the Dix et. al., and Schneiderman books, you just have to read some chapters. You can find these books in the library.


FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions




Project Blogs (for Staff Access Only)

Aachen

Group
Number
Topic
Mentor
Blog URL
1 1-on-1 Meeting Planner Anke https://i10students.informatik.rwth-aachen.de/category/ws1718/dis1-ws1718-group1
2 Connecting Generations Jan https://i10students.informatik.rwth-aachen.de/category/ws1718/dis1-ws1718-group2
3 What I Did Last Week Krishna https://i10students.informatik.rwth-aachen.de/category/ws1718/dis1-ws1718-group3
4 Monk Mode Krishna https://i10students.informatik.rwth-aachen.de/category/ws1718/dis1-ws1718-group4
5 Sports Trainer Assistant Anke https://i10students.informatik.rwth-aachen.de/category/ws1718/dis1-ws1718-group5
6 3D Printer Scheduling Anke https://i10students.informatik.rwth-aachen.de/category/ws1718/dis1-ws1718-group6
7 Hospital Guidance System Anke https://i10students.informatik.rwth-aachen.de/category/ws1718/dis1-ws1718-group7
8 Karõshi Avoidance Krishna https://i10students.informatik.rwth-aachen.de/category/ws1718/dis1-ws1718-group8
9 Connecting Generations Nur https://i10students.informatik.rwth-aachen.de/category/ws1718/dis1-ws1718-group9
10 Learn to Play Cajón Jan https://i10students.informatik.rwth-aachen.de/category/ws1718/dis1-ws1718-group10
11 1-on-1 Meeting Planner Chris. Co. https://i10students.informatik.rwth-aachen.de/category/ws1718/dis1-ws1718-group11
12 Exam Supervision Assistant Chris. Co. https://i10students.informatik.rwth-aachen.de/category/ws1718/dis1-ws1718-group12
13 Secret Santa Helper Paulina https://i10students.informatik.rwth-aachen.de/category/ws1718/dis1-ws1718-group13
14 Distraction-Free Office Nur https://i10students.informatik.rwth-aachen.de/category/ws1718/dis1-ws1718-group14
15 Distraction-Free Office Krishna https://i10students.informatik.rwth-aachen.de/category/ws1718/dis1-ws1718-group15
16 Track Bouldering Paulina https://i10students.informatik.rwth-aachen.de/category/ws1718/dis1-ws1718-group16
17 Secret Santa Helper Paulina https://i10students.informatik.rwth-aachen.de/category/ws1718/dis1-ws1718-group17
18 Hospital Guidance System Jan https://i10students.informatik.rwth-aachen.de/category/ws1718/dis1-ws1718-group18
19 3D Printer Scheduling Paulina https://i10students.informatik.rwth-aachen.de/category/ws1718/dis1-ws1718-group19
20 Learn to Play Cajón Jan https://i10students.informatik.rwth-aachen.de/category/ws1718/dis1-ws1718-group20



Bonn

Group
Number
Topic
Blog URL
1 Exam Supervision Assistant https://i10students.informatik.rwth-aachen.de/category/ws1718/dis1-ws1718-group21
2 Hospital Guidance System https://i10students.informatik.rwth-aachen.de/category/ws1718/dis1-ws1718-group22
3 Distraction-Free Office https://i10students.informatik.rwth-aachen.de/category/ws1718/dis1-ws1718-group23
4 Connecting Generations https://i10students.informatik.rwth-aachen.de/category/ws1718/dis1-ws1718-group24
5 What I Did Last Week https://i10students.informatik.rwth-aachen.de/category/ws1718/dis1-ws1718-group25




Past Offerings: