Course details

Human-Machine Interfaces

SCS Acad. year 2006/2007 Winter semester 6 credits

Current academic year

Communication between computers and humans, information throughput of the interfaces, communication channels and their throughput, different ways to implement the interfaces, user interfaces of the current operation systems, event controlled interfaces in detail, tools for user interface programming, traditional and component models of the interface, models of human-machine communication, modes of communication, consistency of the user interfaces, evaluation of user interfaces, elements of the user interfaces.

Guarantor

Zemčík Pavel, prof. Dr. Ing., dr. h. c. (DCGM)

Language of instruction

Czech

Completion

Examination

Time span

  • 26 hrs lectures
  • 18 hrs pc labs
  • 21 hrs projects

Department

Department of Computer Graphics and Multimedia (UPGM)

Subject specific learning outcomes and competences

The students will learn and understand the importance of user interfaces for efficient computer usage. They will learn theoretical background of human-computer interaction and communication models. They will also learn basic principles and stucture of the application and user interface development tools, get acquainted with the history of such development tools and the probable future development and experience the user interface development on a series of examples. They will learn about the common building blocks of the user interfaces. They will get the important skills needed in development of applications for the real-life and student projects.

The students will learn to work in team and to defent their work in public. They will also improve their skills in development tools usage and also in practical C/C++ programming/Pascal.

Learning objectives

To learn and understand the importance of user interfaces for efficient computer usage. To learn theoretical background of human-computer interaction and communication models. To learn basic principles and stucture of the application and user interface development tools. To get acquainted with the history of such development tools and the probable future development. To experience the user interface development on a series of examples. To learn about the common building blocks of the user interfaces. To get the important skills needed in development of applications for the real-life and student projects.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

Basic knowledge of C/C++ programming.

Study literature

  • WWW strana Borland www.borland.com, vývojové prostředky C++ Builder, Delphi
  • WWW Microsoft www.microsoft.com hesla Visual C++, Active X, Windows

Fundamental literature

  • Preece, J.: Human-Computer Interaction, Addison-Wesley, Wokingham, UK, 1995, ISBN 0-201-62769-8
  • Wodtke, M.: Mind Over Media, McGraw-Hill, New York, USA, 1993, ISBN 0-07-067633-X
  • IEEE Multimedia, IEEE - série časopisů - různé články

Syllabus of lectures

  1. Introduction, event driven interfaces, demonstrations
  2. Communication channels
  3. Multimedia, Virtual reality overview
  4. Pasive and active communication
  5. Mental models of communication
  6. Sound - generation and perception
  7. Image - generation
  8. Image - perception
  9. Event controlled interfaces
  10. Graphical user interfaces overview
  11. MS Windows 3.1 & 95, MS Windows NT
  12. Other user interfaces
  13. Nontraditional user interfaces, iterative design

Syllabus of computer exercises

  1. Introduction, software trial(C++ Builder/Delphi/Visual C++), execution and modification of a simple example
  2. Component programming principle, alternative implementation of a simple user interface in event-driver component way and in traditional way
  3. Detailed component principles, user interface development according to individually assigned goals
  4. Application-orineted components (data bases, networking, graphical output, etc.), implementation of application with application-oriented components
  5. Evaluation of user interface performance - experiments on user interfaces and their numerical evaluation
  6. COM/Active X components, example of Active X interfaces

Progress assessment

Study evaluation is based on marks obtained for specified items. Minimimum number of marks to pass is 50.

Controlled instruction

The evaluated teaching activities include mid-term test, evaluated computer excercises, individual project, and final exam. The mid.term test does not have correction option, the final exam has two possible correction terms.

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