Designing Interactive Systems
INF 385T Spring 2010
General Information
Description: This team oriented project course will explore several
issues surrounding the design and production of usable interactive
systems. Students will be introduced to topics including the iterative
design process, physical and digital prototyping, and user testing.
Project work will allow students to demonstrate mastery of the
methods discussed in class through the creation and evaluation of
working screen-based and physical interfaces. No formal programming
experience is necessary or expected as students are encouraged to
leverage existing skills to develop visualizations and prototypes.
Experience with Flash is helpful, but Powerpoint will suffice.
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Meeting Time: Thursday 6:30-9:30pm
Meeting Place: SZB 546
Textbooks
Required?
Yes
Title
Author
Publisher
Designing Interactions Bill Moggridge MIT Press
Grades
Due
Weight
Class Participation
~
20%
Checkpoints
~
40%
Final Project
5/7
40%
The table at left shows the
due date and grade weight
for each course element
Professor
A. Fleming Seay, Ph.D.
 Email: Fleming_Seay@Dell.com
 Office Hours: (by appointment)
Readings and Quizzes
You are expected to complete reading assignments prior to each class
discussion. Short quizzes may be infrequently given at the beginning of class
in order to verify that the reading has been completed. These quizzes have a
small effect on your class participation grade. Class discussions are designed
to discuss and build upon the readings, not review them.
Attendance, Make-ups, & Late Assignments
Attendance at all class sessions is expected. Though absence will not affect
your grade directly, there will be no make-up quizzes given and your ability
to participate in and contribute to group work will be reduced.
Assignments are due at the beginning of the designated class period. Late
assignments will be assessed a 10% per day late penalty (penalties will
accrue on Saturdays and Sundays).
Early turn-in of assignments to
accommodate planned absences should be arranged with the professor.
Grading Criteria
Performance in the course will be evaluated against the following criteria:
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Individual contribution to project checkpoints
Active participation in class discussions, work-sessions, and critiques
Rigor of design explorations
Quality of craftsmanship and level of completion
Team’s ability to articulate process of arrival at a design solution
Course Schedule (Tentative)
Content
Date
First Day - Course Intro
1/21
Understanding Interaction
1/28
Contextual Design
2/4
Prototyping / User Testing
2/11
Project Concepts Session
2/18
Project Concepts Continued, Teams Established
2/25
In Class Work Session
3/4
Project Progress Checkpoint - Project Plan Review
3/11
No Class - Spring Break
3/18
WildCard Lecture
3/25
Project Progress Checkpoint, Prototype Review
4/1
In Class Work Session
4/8
Project Progress Checkpoint, User Test Review
4/15
In Class Work Session
4/22
Project Progress Checkpoint, End Game
4/29
Final Presentations
5/6