OVERVIEW

Technological progress is changing the concept of the computer and the ways we interact with it. Technologies such as artificial agents, wearables, augmented reality, the Internet of Things, physical informatics extend the possibilities for interaction, replacing traditional WIMP-like interfaces in many domains. In parallel, their applications are expanding into new areas of our lives, such as human well-being, food consumption related practices, leasure or environmental issues.

The aim of this course is to present new trends in designing interactive systems. Special attention will be given to the practical aspects of designing process. The course proposes an innovative vision that applies well-established UX methods to design systems that are not limited to traditional smartphone and desktop. Students’ active participation in classroom will be a key factor in this unique and experimental learning path.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The purpose of the teaching unit is to introduce the principles and techniques for the design and development of interactive systems, with reference to novel interactive paradigms, design approaches, and techniques such as real-time human signal analysis. The teaching unit aims for participants to acquire knowledge and understanding of interaction design and participatory design, applying these principles to the design and evaluation of interactive prototypes through practical and collaborative activities.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course will provide knowledge related to the design of interactive systems. Such systems are increasingly entering many domains of our lives, even those traditionally considered “non-technical”. In this line, two concepts are emerging: Positive Computing, which focuses on technologies that actively promote users’ well-being, mental health, and meaningful engagement, and Sustainable HCI, which concerns technologies that help people live in balance with the environment and society, supporting responsible interactions with natural and social systems. 

While the development of such systems strongly depends on the technology available at a given moment, design principles are more enduring. Therefore, the course will present a few paradigms being the potential “building blocks” while focusing on design approaches and hands-on experiences: starting from brainstorming sessions and exploring the needs of specific user groups, through applying various UX techniques, to creation and evaluation of prototypes. At the end of the course, the student will have acquired the theoretical and practical knowledge needed to design novel interactive systems.

In more detail, at the end of the course students will know/learn:

• principles of Positive Computing and Sustainable HCI
• design approaches such as affective interactions
• main stages of designing interactive prototypes
• methodologies for creation (e.g., Wizard-of-Oz) and evaluation of prototypes (e.g., thinking loud) of interactive systems

Upon completion of this course, a student will be able to:

• perform qualitative and quantitative analyses of user needs
• apply UX design techniques in practice, such as personas, user journeys, empathy maps, Wizard-of-Oz
• design low-, and high-fidelity prototypes of interactive systems
• evaluate these prototypes using qualitative and quantitative methods (e.g., questionnaires, think-aloud)

TEACHING METHODS

The course is structured as a series of lectures combined with practical learning. The theoretical lectures would survey novel  topics in HCI and introduce selected design paradigms, approaches and techniques. Such lectures will be based on the latest research publications and will be delivered with the help of visual aids such as video clips. The practical activities will be dedicated to developing the final projects. During them students will participate in brainstorming sessions, use design toolkits to generate new ideas, work collaboratively on developing their prototypes, and evaluate the work of other students.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The following concepts will be discussed during the lectures:

• Topics: Positive Computing, wellbeing, inclusive informatics
• Topics: Sustainable HCI: nature, ecology, and environmental issues
• Topics: Food&Eating HCI and Commensality
• Designing approaches and Interaction Paradigms: Affective Interaction and Social Computing
• Design Techniques: Studying Users Needs: personas, empathy maps, story boards, user journey 
• Design Techniques: Creation of low/mid fidelity prototypes 
• Design Techniques: Evaluation of low/mid fidelity prototypes: questionnaires, think-aloud, real-time human signal analysis

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Cooper, A. (2007). About Face: The Essentials of Interaction Design. Wiley.

Rogers, Y., Sharp, H., & Preece, J. (2023). Interaction Design: Beyond Human‑Computer Interaction (6th ed.). Wiley.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The assessment will be structured in several stages inclusing activities carried out during the course and the delivery of the final project. Projects will involve completing various stages of the design process, from defining target user group and their needs to prototypes creation. Initial project stages will be prepared and evaluated during hands-on activities in class, after which students will deliver the final version, that is a high-fidelity protype of their system.

Students with certification of Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD), disabilities, or other special educational needs must contact the instructor at the beginning of the course to agree on teaching and examination methods that, while respecting the course objectives, take into account individual learning styles and provide appropriate compensatory tools. It is reminded that the request for compensatory/dispensatory measures must be sent to the course instructor, the School representative, and the “Settore servizi per l'inclusione degli studenti con disabilità e con DSA” office (dsa@unige.it), as per the guidelines available at the link:

https://unige.it/disabilita-

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The evaluation of the project will be based on the students’ ability to apply the concepts discussed during the lectures to the design of a new system that is coherent with the application topics addressed in the course. The assessment will focus on their ability to put the acquired knowledge into practice.