HCCS Advanced Topics - Course Description

Autumn 2006

Contact 
information

Convenor: Dr Geraldine Fitzpatrick
Email: g.a.fitzpatrick@sussex.ac.uk
Where: Room 5A8 Pevensey II

 

Office hours

Email for appointment time, or drop-in for short queries if you really need some fast action (if I'm unable to talk with you then I will make another time to meet)

 

Purpose

1) To explore advanced topics in Human Centred Computing Systems, by providing opportunities to reflect on, synthesise and gain a deeper understanding of the concerns, perspectives and interdisciplinary nature of this area. 

2) To support the development of research, design and study skills through literature reviews, cases studies, presentations, group discussion of research and hands-on experiences. 

The focus this year will be new and emerging technologies and the issues they entail. These technologies move beyond more ‘traditional’ computing and HCI concerns, i.e.:

  • from the desktop into the world [ubiquitous computing]
  • from the workplace to the home and other settings [e.g., domestic, public space]
  • from digital to physical [tangible computing]
  • from functional to ludic concerns [ludic comptuing]
  • from individuals to groups [CSCW]

Learning outcomes

On completion of the course, the successful student should be able to [with related assessment mode]:

  • discuss the diverse and emergent areas within human centred technologies and the issues they entail [seen exam]
  • be able to reflect on practical experiences engaging with some of these technologies from a user-centred perspective, e.g., tangible interactive technologies [group project presentation]
  • critically read and evaluate research literature [learning diary]

Structure

2 hr seminar: to be held on Mondays 11am-1pm in Pevensey 1 Rm 2A2

The seminars will focus around group discussion of specified papers and the issues they raise.

The seminars will be highly interactive and will require all students to actively participate. Expected participation will include:  preparation and reading of papers before seminars, and active involvement via short presentations and discussions, group work, and hands-on activities. Students will take turns in leading the discussions each week.

Online shared workspace: Participation is also expected in an online shared workspace. We will begin by using Microsoft SharePoint. Go to https://portal.informatics.scitech.sussex.ac.uk/default.aspx, select the 'HCCS Advanced Topics' and log in using your usual Sussex account details. The workspace supports discussions, collections of documents, links and various other resources. The value of this group space will depend entirely on your contributions to it.

The purpose of this workspace is to provide hands-on experience of using a type CSCW application and engaging in group work through this medium.

Studio workshop: A studio workshop, (room TBD),  will be used from weeks 4 - 8, to conduct hands-on group work to develop tangible interfaces using the Phidget toolkit. (See http://grouplab.cpsc.ucalgary.ca/phidgets/). More details about this work will be provided closer to the time. The experiences of using this toolkit will provide the basis for Assignments 1, a group presentation of the tangible interface developed and the issues around using the toolkit.

 

The student

If you are enrolled in this course, you are a Masters student at the University of Sussex. You should already have an undergraduate degree in computer science, cognitive science or related area. It is expected that you have a basic understanding of the software development lifecycle and techniques. It is also assumed that you are self-motivated, that you know how to use a library to conduct research (not just a web search!) and that you are responsible for your own learning.

 

Course texts and resources

There is no set text for this course. Readings will be made available for each week; these will either de downloadable or made available in hard copy in a folder in the Master lab (to be photocopied and returned).

The Uni of Sussex library holds many texts that you will find of interest: go to the library catalogue to search on keywords arising out of the topics for the week.

 

Assessment

Group Presentation:

- 40% weighting - 20-30 minute group presentation (time depending on class size);  (30% group component; 10% individual component) Week 9 seminar.

 

The presentation is based on a group project using a tangible toolkit to design and build and interactive application. The presentation should involve: a discussion of the tangible application that was built; the design motivations and intended uses/users; a demonstration of the application; and a critical reflection of the issues experienced e.g., in trying to use the interface toolkit, coming up with ideas, etc.

Learning Diary:

- 10% weighting - to be handed in Week 10

The learning diary is an opportunity to capture issues each week around the assigned readings and topics of discussion. There should be at least one dated entry per week. Entries should include notes about key issues raised in the readings, open questions arising out of the readings, topics for discussion based on the readings, and any other related issues e.g., relevant literature, web links, applications, etc. Marks will be allocated according to evidence of active engagement with the course materials rather than the 'correctness' or quantity of the notes per se. The diary can take any form: hand written notes, word document, blog and so on.

Seen Exam:

-  50% weighting;  - 2 hour seen exam to take place Week 1 Spring term (date, time, location TBC)

Details will be made available Week 10.  

NOTE:

All course handouts will be made available in the SharePoint Workspace. Deadlines are strictly enforced.

Ensure you have fully understood the regulations about misconduct (including collusion and plagiarism) as set out in the General Assessment Handbook: http://www.sussex.ac.uk/Units/academic/academicoffice/committees/graduate/handbooks/index.shtml

*** ALL to read http://www.sussex.ac.uk/academicoffice/1-4-1-7.html for practical details on plagiarism ***

Useful online resources for referencing and writing skills:

·         Study skills: http://www.sussex.ac.uk/langc/skills/index.html