Module code: ECS612U
Credits: 15
Semester: SEM1
Today, many technologies are designed to be used in a dynamic, changing context; and their primary use is often social interaction and fun i.e. there is no quantifiable output and no clear goal other than enjoyment. Computer games, mobile music players and online communities are all examples where the quality of the experience is the primary aim of the interaction and usage is highly dependent on social context. Computer usage is also shifting away from the traditional keyboard/screen paradigm towards mobile, multimodal, wearable and ubiquitous systems.
This course explores the challenges these new technologies, and the industries they have created, present for the design and evaluation of interactive systems. It moves away from the traditional human-computer interaction model with its focus on increasing efficiency or minimising errors for single users, and explores theories relating to usability and experience, social context, creativity and live performance. It explores the nature of engagement with interactive systems and between people when mediated by interactive systems.
This course aims to:
• establish the importance of social context, aesthetics and experience for interaction design
• analyse the impact of technology on human relationships and social organisation
• identify and analyse novel uses of technology to aid interaction, creativity, performance and engagement
• provide analytic perspectives, tools and techniques that support design for user experience
• provide experience of design for interactional data.
Level: 6
