DCS224
Graphical User Interfaces

This module is taught by the Department of Computer Science.

Computers are tools that people interact with and through for work and pleasure. Nowadays computers are ubiquitous and are fundamental to all sorts of devices such as washing machines, cars, mobile phones, airplanes, televisions, and musical instruments. However, it is still very difficult to design user interfaces which are simple, intuitive, and easy to use you only have to look at the number of help books (e.g. the proliferation of books with titles such as 'the idiots guide to ') and modules to realise that designers often simply fail to make interfaces usable.

This module introduces you to basic concepts of psychology and communication which inform the way in which interfaces should be designed.

The module comprises lectures, problem classes, and lab sessions.

At the end of the module students should:

• be able to construct GUIs
• understand basic principles of psychology and communication which inform the design of GUIs
• understand how to analyse activities and situations to inform the design of suitable GUIs
• understand, and have experienced, an iterative design process
• be able to evaluate your own and other peoples GUI designs
• be able to reflect upon different design and techniques and to critique their applicability