SENG310 Human Computer Interaction - Summer 2005







Assignment 3

(due June 28th at the start of class)

 (8 points)

Please read carefully all the description and follow the instructions. For your writing, structure your thoughts clearly and try not to bounce back and forth between ideas. Try to avoid being repetitive. Be wary of "sweeping statements" and "comments" you cannot back up.  Your report should be written professionally -- consider a future employer reading this report.

The goal of this assignment is to familiarize you with Fitt's law and experimental procedures in HCI. Your task is to compare two alternative layouts that support the same functionality utilizing Fitt's law. The first step is to pick an application for which you can obtain two alternative
layouts (some possibilities: Word - OpenOffice, Internet Explorerer - Firefox, some application/website you have written, ....). Feel free to choose any application as long as you can obtain two alternative layouts for the same functionality.

Make a screenshot of each layout (ensuring that the window sizes are the same). Choose
2 particular tasks that involve at least 3 mouse operatations operations (for example click the back button, save the page and then click the home page button). Your task is to use Fitt's law
to calculate the time to perform each task. For each task use the following initial locations for the mouse (center, 4 corners, 5 points of your own choosing or random for a total of 10 points).

For each task, mouse operation and point calculate the predicted time to complete it
by Fitt's law (2 tasks * 3 mouse operations * 10 points). For each layout
calculate the total time for the two tasks and use that to compare the two layouts.

Explain your conclusions and if appropriate provide suggestions for improving the layout.


Extra credit (2 points): Abstract your layouts using rectangular buttons and write
a Java program that can experimentally measure your performance at the
tasks used above. Compare your measured results with the theoretically predicted
results. Explain. Include the source code in your hardcopy submission.







Assignment 2

(due June 16th at the start of class)


Please read carefully all the description and follow the instructions. For your writing, structure your thoughts clearly and try not to bounce back and forth between ideas. Try to avoid being repetitive. Be wary of "sweeping statements" and "comments" you cannot back up.  Your report should be written professionally -- consider a future employer reading this report.

Part a) (3 points)
The main goal of part a of the assignment is to apply the concepts of Interaction Design you have learned to the analysis and evaluation of the following website:
http://www.allmusic.com

1) What is the purpose of this website ? Who would be the potential users ? Provide some examples of different types of users and how they would use the system. (1 point)
2) Describe some user and usability requirements for this particular application (mimimum 4 user and 4 usability). How are these requirements realized in the website interaction design ? (1 point)
3) What conceptual models are used when interacting with the website ? Explain not just enumerate (1 point)

Part b) (7 points)
The main goal of part b of the assignment is to familiarize you with the ideas of ubiquitous computing and tangible user interfaces. One of the main proponents of ubiquitous computing is Mark Weiser
 http://sandbox.parc.com/hypertext/weiser/

The main idea is that computing eventually will "disappear" into the everyday fabric of our lives. This part is based on reading the paper entitled "Bottles: A transparent interface as a tribute to Mark Weiser" provided in the resources section of the webpage.

1) Summarize the paper in 5-10 paragraphs (2 points)
2) Based on the ideas in the paper think of your own tangible interface. Try to make your description as concrete as possible and feasible with current technology. Provide simple usage scenarios of your proposed interface. (5 points). The best tangible interface ideas will win small prizes.



Assignment 1


(due May 26 at the start of class)
(based on Preece Book - assignment for chapter 1)
See the advice given on the textbook website on how to do this assignment.  This assignment should be done individually -- a high standard of English is expected (use a spell checker, hand in neatly typed, clearly structured answers). 

Some Tips:
Choose something that is interactive and has some scope for discussion (but don't choose something that is very complex -- if it is, examine only one part of it). 

For your writing, structure your thoughts clearly and try not to bounce back and forth between ideas. Try to avoid being repetitive. Be wary of "sweeping statements" and "comments" you cannot back up.  Your report should be written professionally -- consider a future employer reading this report.

Find a handheld device (e.g remote control, handheld computer, music player, or cell phone) and examine how it has been designed, paying particular attention to how the user is meant to interact with it.
(a) From your first impressions, write down what first comes to mind as to what is good and bad about the way the device works. Then list (i) its functionality and (ii) the range of tasks that a typical user would want to do using it. Is the functionality greater, equal, or less than what ther user wants to do ?
(b) Based on your reading of Chapter 1 and any other material you have come across, compile your own set of usability and user experience goals that you think will be useful in evaluating the device. Decide which are the most important ones and explain why.
(c) Translate the core usability and user experience goals you have selected into two or three questions. Then use them to assess how well the device fares (e.g., Usability goals: What specific mechanisms have been used to ensure safety ? How easy is it to learn ? User Experience Goals: Is it fun to use ? Does the user get frustrated easily ? If so why ?
(d) Repeat (b) and (c) for design concepts and usability principles (again choose a relevant set)
(e) Finally, discuss possible improvements to the interface based on your usability evaluation

Detailed Marking guide:  marked out of 100 marks.
First impressions (2 marks)
Part (a) -- list approx 5 functions and tasks  (10 marks)
Part (b) -- clearly indicate and distinguish which ones are usability goals and which ones are user experience goals. Choose approx 4 each, total of 8. (16 marks)
Part (c) -- select approx 2-3 questions for usability goals and 2-3 questions for user experience goals.  Then assess your device according to these 4-6 questions.  (24 marks)
Part (d) -- clearly indicate approx 4 design concepts and approx 4 usability principles (16 marks); determine approx 6 questions and assess your device (24 marks)
Part (e) -- (8 marks)