CS 420/620

Human-Computer Interaction
Fall 2019
Course Syllabus

August 26, 2019

1
Outline
The Instructor
The Students
The Course
The Texts
Initial WWW Pointers
Grading Scheme
Policies
Tentative Schedule
2
 The Instructor
Sergiu Dascalu
Room SEM-236
Telephone 784-4613
E-mail [email protected]
Web-site www.cse.unr.edu/~dascalus
Office hours:
 Thursday 10:00 am – 12:00 pm (all)
 Thursday 12:00 pm – 12:30 pm (grad students only)

or by appointment or chance

3
The Instructor
Sergiu Dascalu
PhD, Dalhousie U., Halifax, NS, Canada, 2001
Teaching and research at UNR,
2002-present (software engineering, HCI)
Teaching and research at Dalhousie University,
1993-2001 (software engineering focus)
Teaching and research at the University
Politehnica Bucharest, Romania, 1984-1995
(RT embedded systems focus)
Consultant for software development
companies in Canada and Romania

4
 The Students

Registered:
31 undergraduate students (CS 420)
9 graduate students (CS 620)

Prerequisite:
CS 302 Data Structures

5
 The Course
Classroom:
PE-107
TR 1:00 - 2:15 pm
Catalog Description:
Lecture + Lab: 3 + 0; Credit(s): 3
Usability goals, design principles, design processes, prototyping,
interface metaphors, interaction styles, interaction devices,
software tools, evaluation paradigms and techniques, user
manuals, collaborative work, information visualization.
Prerequisite: CS 302 Data Structures

6
 The Course
Outline: This course examines topics related to
developing and evaluating user interfaces for
interactive computer systems. Topics covered
include usability goals and measures, universal
usability, understanding everyday user interactions,
user interface design methods and tools, interaction
styles, interaction devices, user interface builders,
evaluation concepts and techniques, usability
testing, documentation and user support,
information search, and data visualization.

7
 The Texts
Required textbooks:
Ben Schneiderman, Catherine Plaisant, Maxine Cohen, Steven
Jacobs, Niklas Emquist, Nicholas Diakopoulos, Designing the User
Interface: Strategies for Effective Human-Computer Interaction, 6th
Edition, Addison-Wesley, 2017, ISBN 978-0134380384 [DTUI]
Don Norman, The Design of Everyday Things: Revised and
Expanded Edition, Basic Books, 2013, ISBN 978-0465050659
[DOET]

s8
Course Material
Referred to as DTUI
The SIXTH edition

9
Course Material
Referred to as DOET
E-book available for
free through
UNR library

10
 Notes on Course Material
Original PowerPoint slides by the textbook’s authors from DTUI website (instructor accessible)
are used in this CS 420/620 class, in some cases with additions and modifications by the current
course instructor (Sergiu Dascalu) as well as by the previous course instructor (2018), Dr. Majed
Al Zayer.
Several other course materials (e.g., project assignments, slides pertaining to DOET) have been
created or modified by Dr. Al Zayer, who is acknowledged here as a significant contributor to
the preparation of the CS 420/620 course.
All slides and other course materials should be used only for CS 420/620 course-related
purposes. Please do not make them public and/or distribute them outside this class.

11
Initial WWW Pointers
Required textbook’s related website
(Schneiderman et al, 2017)
Gary Perlman’s HCI bibliography:
http://hcibib.org/

12
Grading Scheme
Grading scheme for CS 420 students (tentative)
Assignments 20%
Presentations 7%
Midterm tests 35%
Project 35%
Class participation 3%
 TOTAL 100%

13
Grading Scheme
Grading scheme for CS 620 students (tentative)
Assignments 15%
Presentations 7%
“Midterm” tests 35%
Project & paper 45%
Class participation 3%
 TOTAL 100%

14
 Grading Scheme
Passing conditions (all must be met):
50% overall &
50% in tests &
50% in project [and, for CS 620 students, paper] &
50% in assignments, presentations, and class participation
For grade A: at least 90% overall, at least 90% in class
participation, and at least 60% in tests
There are no make-up tests or homework in this course
Note that poor class participation can significantly affect
your grade [well beyond 3%]. Valid excuses for absences
include being sick, major family/personal problems, and
participation to conferences or other professional events
approved by the CS 420/620 instructor. Such excuses DO
NOT include being busy at your paid or volunteer job work,
or for preparing for or attending other courses.
15
 Grading Scale
Numerical-letter grade correspondence
A 90 -100 [maximum 100]
A-87 - 89
B+ 84 - 86
B 80 - 83
B-77 - 79
C+ 74 - 76
C 70 - 73
C-67 - 69
D+ 64 - 66
D 60 - 63
D- 50 - 59
F < 50

16
 CS 620 vs. CS 420
In summary, grad students enrolled in CS 620 will have
extra work (as compared to CS 420) as follows:
A project-based course paper
Longer class presentations
Lower weight assignments
An additional question in each midterm exam

17
 Policies
Late submission policy:
Maximum 2 late days per assignment/project deliverable
Each late day penalized with 10%
No subdivision of late days
No late days for presentations and tests
Example: a 90/100 worth assignment gets 81/100 if one
day late (90*0.9 = 81) or 72/100 if two days late (90*0.8 =
72)

18
Course Goals

TASK
Know what it takes to achieve
a human-centered design, and make one
19
Course Goals: Understand Human Users
Users are humans

A human is a very complex system

Different humans have different

Capabilities
Cultures
Backgrounds
Usage contexts
TASK

20
Course Goals: Understand the “Computer Part”
“User-friendly” goes beyond buttons and colors

The “computer-part” (the “solution”) partners with humans

to accomplish a task

It has two parts:

The user interface, i.e., the frontier of
the software
TASK
The device (hardware and software), limited by input
and output modalities, power resources,
form factors, and other

21
Course Goals: Understand the interaction
The dialog between the user and the solution (both the UI and
the device)

The design decisions that pertain to how human(s) and

computing solution(s) collaborate to achieve a goal:
How input is provided to the solution (computer “device” or
“product”)
How output is provided to the user
How the user discovers available/unavailable
functions
How the solution behaves when things
go wrong
… and more

TASK 22
Course Goals: Understand the Task
The context of the task:
Who
What
When
Where
Why

TASK

23
Course Goals: Design a Human-Centered Solution
Find a real problem
Design a solution
Evaluate the effectiveness of the solution

24
 Main course components

Fundamentals of
Design Interaction
Motivation everyday
processes styles
interaction

25
 Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)
Identify, formulate, analyze, and solve complex computing or engineering problems by
1
applying principles of computing, engineering, science, and mathematics. 

Design, implement, and evaluate a computing or engineering solution to meet a given set of
2 requirements, with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global,
cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors.

3 Communicate effectively in a variety of professional contexts, with a range of audiences.

Recognize professional responsibilities and make informed judgments in engineering and

4 computing practice based on legal and ethical principles, considering the impact of
solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts.
Function effectively as a member or leader of a team engaged in activities appropriate to the
5 program’s discipline, creating a collaborative and inclusive environment, establishing goals,
planning tasks, and meeting objectives.

Apply computer science theory and software development fundamentals to produce

6
computing-based solutions.

Develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use
7
engineering judgment to draw conclusions.

8 Acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.
26
 Student Learning Outcomes (ABET)
Graduate Student Learning Outcomes (G-SLOs)
Our graduates will have: 
• An ability to apply engineering and computer science research and
theory to advance the art, science, and practice of the discipline.
• An ability to design and conduct experiments as well as to analyze,
interpret, apply, and disseminate the data.
• An understanding of research methodology.
 

27
Statement on Academic Dishonesty
Cheating, plagiarism or otherwise obtaining grades under false
pretenses constitute academic dishonesty according to the code of
this university.
Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated and penalties can include
filing a final grade of "F"; reducing the student's final course grade
one or two full grade points; awarding a failing mark on the
coursework in question; or requiring the student to retake or
resubmit the coursework.
For more details, see the University of Nevada, Reno General Catalog.

28
 Statement on Disability Services
Any student with a disability needing academic adjustments or
accommodations is requested to speak with me or the Disability
Resource Center (Pennington Achievement Center Suite 230) as
soon as possible to arrange for appropriate accommodations.

This course may leverage 3rd party web/multimedia content, if you

experience any issues accessing this content, please notify your
instructor.

29
 Statement on Academic Success Services
Your student fees cover usage of the Math Center (775) 784-4433,
Tutoring Center (775) 784-6801, and University Writing Center
(775) 784-6030. These centers support your classroom learning; it
is your responsibility to take advantage of their services. Keep in
mind that seeking help outside of class is the sign of a responsible
and successful student.

30
Statement on University Math Center
The University Math Center (UMC) is focused on helping students
with mathematical and statistical concepts.  While mathematics is
used extensively in engineering, the UMC does not have the
resources to help students with engineering courses.  Engineering
students are encouraged to use the UMC for help in their math
classes, and they are welcome to use its computer lab and study
area any time – regardless of course.  However, UMC tutors cannot
answer questions regarding engineering courses.    

31
 Statement on Equal Opportunity
The University of Nevada, Reno is committed to providing a safe
learning and work environment for all. If you believe you have
experienced discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual assault,
domestic/dating violence, or stalking, whether on or off campus, or
need information related to immigration concerns, please contact the
University's Equal Opportunity & Title IX office at 775-784-1547.
Resources and interim measures are available to assist you. For more
information, please visit the Equal Opportunity and Title IX page.

32
 On Recording Class Lectures
Statement on Audio and Video Recording:

Surreptitious or covert video-taping of class or unauthorized audio recording of

class is prohibited by law and by Board of Regents policy. This class or any parts
of it may be recorded to video or audio media only with the written permission
of the instructor. In order to accommodate students with disabilities, some
students may have been given permission to record class lectures and
discussions. Therefore, students should understand that their comments
during class may be recorded.

33
 University Athletics
If you are involved with any university-sponsored athletic activities
that will have an impact on your attendance, you must provide the
course instructor with a letter from your coach and/or the UNR
Athletic Department as soon as possible, but no later than the end of
the second week of classes. This should include the official schedule
of your activities which will impact your attendance throughout the
semester. You must also advise the Instructor one week in advance of
any absences related to the athletic activities.

34
 Illness & Change of Policy
Illness or Other Personal Issue: If you are sick or have a health-related reason for not
attending class, let the instructors know as soon as possible about this situation. Same, for
a major family or personal issue.
 
Course/Policy Modification: The instructors reserve the right to add to, and/or modify any
of the above policies as needed to maintain an appropriate and effective educational
atmosphere in the classroom and the laboratories. In the case that this occurs, all students
will be notified in advance of implementation of the new and/or modified policy
 

35
 Instructor Statement: Student Engagement
There will be a good deal of interaction and class/group activity in
this course. For that reason, students are expected to be engaged
in, and focused on, the classroom discussion and/or activities. In
addition, everyone involved in this class is expected to act in a
professional manner, and interact with her or his peers with that
same professional demeanor, which precludes rude or
inappropriate behavior.
 

36
Tentative Schedule
Week # Dates (T, R) Contents

1 Aug 26, 28 Lecture, Students’ introduction

2 Sep - , 04 Lecture, A#1 given

Lectures
3 Sep 09, 11 Presentations draw, A#2 given
A#1 due

4 Sep 16, 18 Lecture presentations by students (#1)

Lecture presentations by students (#1), A#3 given

5 Sep 23, 25
A#2 due, Project teams formed by September 25
Lecture presentations by students (round #1)
6 Sep 30, Oct 02
P#1 given, A#3 due

7 Oct 07, 09 Lectures

37
Tentative Schedule [continued]
Lecture presentations by students (round #1)
8 Oct 14, 16
P#1 due, P#2 given

Lecture
9 Oct 21, 23
Midterm #1 (October 23)

Lecture presentations by students (round #1), Lecture,

10 Oct 28, 30
P#3 given, P#2 due, Paper given [CS 620 only]

11 Nov 04, 06 Lectures

12 Nov -, 13 Lecture, P#4 given, P#3 due

Lecture
13 Nov 18, 20
Midterm #2 (November 20)

14 Nov 25, 27 Presentations by students (round #2)

15 Dec 02, 04 Presentations by students (round #2)

16 Dec 09, - P#4 due & demos (Dec 09 & 10), Paper due (Dec 16)
38
Next class [August 28, 2019]
Students’ introduction [not graded]:
CS 420 students: talk about 1 minute about yourself
CS 620 students: prepare 2-5 slides for a 3-minute

presentation about yourself: your background, main

accomplishments, why you joined UNR, your CSE
interests, why you are taking CS 620, plans for and
after graduation
More on the need for HCI & short videos

39