Welcome to
SWE 205
Software Usability
Analysis and Design
Learning Objectives
• Students will learn knowledge of what constitutes a
usable human-computer interface
• Students will learn quantitative engineering principles for
designing usable human-computer interfaces
• Students will learn that usability is key to modern
software success
• Students will learn how to evaluate the usability of
human-computer interfaces
• Students will develop :
– Critical thinking skills
– Divergent, creative, problem solving skills
– Collaboration skills
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Class Overview
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Class URL : http://www.cs.gmu.edu/~offutt/classes/205/
Contact info, TA
Objective : How to build software for people
Readings : Posted in schedule
Exams : Midterm and final, closed-book, in class
Evaluations : User interfaces—short written reports
Participation : 25% of the grade!
Class structure :
– Tuesdays will usually be lecture
– Thursdays will often be group exercises or discussion
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Class Structure
• Books :
– The Design of Everyday Things, Don Norman
– Don’t Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability, Steve
Krug
• Lots of examples in class – not just software
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Why my PPT clicker is so cool
Why my stovetop encourages me to turn on the wrong burner
Why my car key is stupid
Why my portable mouse is brilliant
• Written evaluations of user interfaces (critical thinking)
• NO programming
Goal : How to design interfaces for users’ needs
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View Syllabus Online
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Participation …
Homework …
Collaboration …
In-class computer use …
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Class Participation
• You must be engaged with the class throughout the
semester
• You must contribute to the class—we all want to learn
from YOU
• Ways to participate :
1. Attend class—attendance will be monitored
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Must make at least 25 class meetings to earn a C
2. Speak up during class discussion periods
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If you are shy, more posts on the class forum can make up for being
quiet in class
3. Bring UI examples to class
4. Post substantial comments to the class forum
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Must average about one post per week to earn a C
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Homework Assignments
• We will have around 10 homework
assignments—not quite one per week
• None will be hard or time-consuming
• Evaluations : Analyze some user interface, use a
form to prepare a short written report
– 1 or 2 pages
– About 30 minutes
– Hopefully these will be fun !
• Bring examples of UPs (usability problems) to
class
• Other small exercises
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Schedule
• URL :
http://www.cs.gmu.edu/~offutt/classes/205/sched.html
• Please read before class
• Slides and assignments posted before class
– If I update something, I will add a “new” image to the schedule
web page
• Handouts and notes are there for your benefit and
entertainment
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Readings
• Most chapters in the books are short
• The reading should make you think, but the
concepts are not hard
– Examples are real and simple
– No math to work through
• It is very important to keep up with the reading—
reading before class will prepare you to :
1. Understand what I’m talking about
2. Join the discussion
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Grading Policy
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20% : Assignments
25% : Class participation
25% : Midterm
30% : Final – closed book, in-class, comprehensive
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> 90% : definitely an A or A> 80% : definitely a B or A
> 70% : definitely a C, B or A
Only one A+ — the top grade in the class
I expect more than half the class to earn an A
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