Syllabus TLC 331 Fall 2002

Instructor: Tonya Browning

Fall Semester 2002

Wed. 6-9 PM, FAC 9

Note: This page updated weekly with the most recent syllabus changes. Here is the original archived version.

Date Content Assignment

8.28
Brief lecture
Introductions
Syllabus & policy statements
Join class email list (tlc331-browning@lists.cwrl.utexas.edu)
http://babbage2.cwrl.utexas.edu/cgi-bin/lyris.pl

Design of Everyday Things (Ch 1)
On-line readings
Tog's First Principles: http://www.asktog.com/basics/firstPrinciples.html

“There’s No Such Thing as Information Design”
http://www.jefraskin.com/forjef2/jefweb-compiled/published/no_info_design.html

UI assignment 1

9.4 Class items
Design examples from the class
Discussion of the readings
Software gone awry lecture
In-class activity

http://www.cnn.com
http://www.imdb.com
http://www.amazon.com
http://www.microsoft.com
http://www.senate.gov/
http://www.mapquest.com

Spend 5 minutes going through the site individually, then join your group. Answer these questions:
What is the purpose of the site?
How does the information display help or hurt the site goals?
Assess content, search functions and visual layout. Use terminology from our reading.
Map the levels within the site (depth of site).
Deconstruct the underlying features: Does it use Flash, HTML, ASP, etc. Can you tell if the information is dynamic? Do you (as a user) care? How usable is the interface?
With your group, print out one page from the site and mark it up on a visual level. Be sure to make a capture this information in a document, which you will give to me with everyone's name on it.
What objects does the site use to represent links, buttons or additional functionality?
Present your findings to the class.
Turn in your example to me w/everyone's name on it.

Design of Everyday Things (Ch 2)

On-line readings

A Nielsen article on heuristics, "Heuristic Evaluation"

UI assignment 2

9.11
Website evaluative answers
Discussion of readings
Mid-term project
Visio Design Reviews
Humane Interface (Ch 1)
Designing Visual Interfaces (Ch 1)

On-line readings

Alan Cooper excerpt
http://www.devx.com/upload/free/features/vbpj/1999/06jun99/ac0699/ac0699.asp

Storyboard Example

UI assignment 3

9.18 Discussion of readings
Using Visio
Storyboarding
Exercises in Style

Humane Interface (Ch 2)
Designing Visual Interfaces (Ch 2)
Design of Everyday Things (pp 99-104)
Summation of using task scenarios
Comparison of usability evaluation methods
http://www.userdesign.com/usability_uem.html

9.25 Group assignments for the midterm

Discussion of mid-term project
Group Assignment:

Create a folder inside the teacher folder --> projects with your group name
Spend time brainstorming your company. Identify the type of company and what kind of workers and time tracking takes place.
Create a document that lists the members of your group and the following information:

List at least four pieces of functionality in order of importance for time tracking software from an individual's perspective.
Now order them from a manager's perspective.
Now do this from a company's perspective.
Go to the http://www.journyx.com website and read about their product.
Find 3 other vendors on-line that have the same type of product.
Presentation by Aaron Algaier and John Pell, Journyx representatives

Discuss Task Scenarios for users of Journyx
Humane Interface (Ch 3)
Designing Visual Interfaces (Ch 3)
Design of Everyday Things (Ch 5)
UI assignment 4
Brief description of task scenarios
http://www.designtech.com/websites4.html
User personas
http://www.cooper.com/newsletters/2001_07/perfecting_your_personas.htm
http://developer.arsdigita.com/acs-java/user-centered/personas.html
An example for your group design, that contains a set of personas for a fictional web site. Combines an overview with a more detailed story. From the ACS design site.

10.2 Group project work

Complete last week's group assignment and copy it to your project folder
Spend time looking at the Journyx software. I will give your admin their login so they may create users.
Create User Personas
Create Task Scenarios
Readings for next week's guest:
* "On Setting the Context - Some Notes"

James Robertson, The Atlantic Systems Guild, Inc.
Primarily focus on the following:
Beginning of article, up to "The solution domain"
Last two sections of article, "The context" and "Data Flows and Domain Boundaries"
* "Requirements: Made to Measure"
James Robertson and Suzanne Robertson, The Atlantic Systems Guild, Inc.

Primarily the "Gold Plating" section
* Volare Requirements Specification Template
We will be discussing this in class, but some cursory familiarity with
P. 5 "Requirement Shell"
Section 7a The context of the work
Section 8 The Scope of the Product
Section 10 Look and Feel Requirements
Section 11 Usability Requirements
Section 16 Cultural and Political Requirements
Section 17 Legal Requirements

10.9 Presenter, Adam Creighton

On-line readings for the 10/16 speaker
Books of interest (summaries)
Marketing Links are at the bottom of the page
UI Assignment 5: Post a response to my query in our class forum by next class.
[You must first "Register", make sure you note you're over 13. Then create your ID. Once you've established your ID, you may post responses in our class "Browning-TLC311" (I know the course number is incorrect).]

10.16 Presenter, David Schlosser Humane Interface (Ch 4)
Designing Visual Interfaces (Ch 4)
Design of Everyday Things (pp 164-178)

10.23 Papers returned
Explanation of revisions
Mid-term questions
Software lecture
An example of selective attention by the crystal cutters from my trip
Work on your mid-term project
Work on a revision to your paper

10.30 Mid-term Presentations
Posting to the class forum
Reviews of your group can be done on-line and are due by Sunday night
Humane Interface (Ch 5)
Designing Visual Interfaces (Ch 5)
Design of Everyday Things (Ch 7)
Work on a revision to your paper
Post a response to the class forum

11.6 Turn in your revisions

Final project discussion
Goals for tonight's class:
Choose or brainstorm the UI for your final project
Mail class list your topic in a short paragraph and address the following:

Name of software to be designed or revamped
Type of application
Format of your final presentation/prototype
Humane Interface (Ch 6)
Designing Visual Interfaces (Ch 6)
On-line readings
Go to MonkeyMEDIA's site and select the reference link. Read "Five Styles of Interaction." This is an important article, because you will have to identify the style of interaction used in your project.

11.13 Discuss Gould's article.
The Interface Hall of Shame
Compose answers to the questions below for discussion in class

The primary goals of the product (what are you trying to do?)
The nature of your audience (who is your target?)
Potential implementation issues (how will you reach them?)
What style of interaction are you using?
Final project work Post answer to the new question on the forum.
On-line readings

Experience Modeling (despite being Sapient related)

Interaction Design Patterns

We'll finish the readings next week.

11.20 I.D.'s annual awards for best design and their interactive media awards.
Discuss final projects.
Project work.
Work on your final projects.

11.27 Happy Thanksgiving. Work on your final projects.
I will be available for IM (on AIM as tlc331prof) on Monday, Dec. 2 and Tuesday, Dec. 3 from 9-10pm.
Please don't hesitate to email me if you have questions. I will be working during the holiday. You may also mail the list.

12.4 Rules of the Final

You must be on time. NO exceptions.
You will have five minutes at the beginning of class to copy over your work to your student folder.
If you are working in a group, please turn in your work to the projects folder. Name the folder "Final_LastName[s]" for ease of access. You may also bring in a CD or hard copy of your information.
If you are doing a solo project, please copy it to your student folder. Name it the same way as above. Be sure to include a readme.txt if it's difficult to navigate.
If you are doing an individual project, you will have 8 minutes to present. If you are doing a group project, you will have 10 minutes. I will hold you to these times.
You must fill out an evaluation of your group to complete the final. I will post a link similar to the mid-term.
Send me an email with your PF Chang's request. I will be ordering for the class. Share and share alike.

Present your final projects.
If you were in a project group, fill out an evaluation of your group.

Policy Statement | Syllabus | Student Projects | Assignments | Home

Date	Content	Assignment
8.28	Brief lecture Introductions Syllabus & policy statements Join class email list (tlc331-browning@lists.cwrl.utexas.edu) http://babbage2.cwrl.utexas.edu/cgi-bin/lyris.pl	Design of Everyday Things (Ch 1) On-line readings Tog's First Principles: http://www.asktog.com/basics/firstPrinciples.html “There’s No Such Thing as Information Design” http://www.jefraskin.com/forjef2/jefweb-compiled/published/no_info_design.html UI assignment 1
9.4	Class items Design examples from the class Discussion of the readings Software gone awry lecture In-class activity http://www.cnn.com http://www.imdb.com http://www.amazon.com http://www.microsoft.com http://www.senate.gov/ http://www.mapquest.com Spend 5 minutes going through the site individually, then join your group. Answer these questions: What is the purpose of the site? How does the information display help or hurt the site goals? Assess content, search functions and visual layout. Use terminology from our reading. Map the levels within the site (depth of site). Deconstruct the underlying features: Does it use Flash, HTML, ASP, etc. Can you tell if the information is dynamic? Do you (as a user) care? How usable is the interface? With your group, print out one page from the site and mark it up on a visual level. Be sure to make a capture this information in a document, which you will give to me with everyone's name on it. What objects does the site use to represent links, buttons or additional functionality? Present your findings to the class. Turn in your example to me w/everyone's name on it.	Design of Everyday Things (Ch 2) On-line readings A Nielsen article on heuristics, "Heuristic Evaluation" UI assignment 2
9.11	Website evaluative answers Discussion of readings Mid-term project Visio Design Reviews	Humane Interface (Ch 1) Designing Visual Interfaces (Ch 1) On-line readings Alan Cooper excerpt http://www.devx.com/upload/free/features/vbpj/1999/06jun99/ac0699/ac0699.asp Storyboard Example UI assignment 3
9.18	Discussion of readings Using Visio Storyboarding Exercises in Style	Humane Interface (Ch 2) Designing Visual Interfaces (Ch 2) Design of Everyday Things (pp 99-104) Summation of using task scenarios Comparison of usability evaluation methods http://www.userdesign.com/usability_uem.html
9.25	Group assignments for the midterm Discussion of mid-term project Group Assignment: Create a folder inside the teacher folder --> projects with your group name Spend time brainstorming your company. Identify the type of company and what kind of workers and time tracking takes place. Create a document that lists the members of your group and the following information: List at least four pieces of functionality in order of importance for time tracking software from an individual's perspective. Now order them from a manager's perspective. Now do this from a company's perspective. Go to the http://www.journyx.com website and read about their product. Find 3 other vendors on-line that have the same type of product. Presentation by Aaron Algaier and John Pell, Journyx representatives Discuss Task Scenarios for users of Journyx	Humane Interface (Ch 3) Designing Visual Interfaces (Ch 3) Design of Everyday Things (Ch 5) UI assignment 4 Brief description of task scenarios http://www.designtech.com/websites4.html User personas http://www.cooper.com/newsletters/2001_07/perfecting_your_personas.htm http://developer.arsdigita.com/acs-java/user-centered/personas.html An example for your group design, that contains a set of personas for a fictional web site. Combines an overview with a more detailed story. From the ACS design site.
10.2	Group project work Complete last week's group assignment and copy it to your project folder Spend time looking at the Journyx software. I will give your admin their login so they may create users. Create User Personas Create Task Scenarios	Readings for next week's guest: * "On Setting the Context - Some Notes" James Robertson, The Atlantic Systems Guild, Inc. Primarily focus on the following: Beginning of article, up to "The solution domain" Last two sections of article, "The context" and "Data Flows and Domain Boundaries" * "Requirements: Made to Measure" James Robertson and Suzanne Robertson, The Atlantic Systems Guild, Inc. Primarily the "Gold Plating" section * Volare Requirements Specification Template We will be discussing this in class, but some cursory familiarity with P. 5 "Requirement Shell" Section 7a The context of the work Section 8 The Scope of the Product Section 10 Look and Feel Requirements Section 11 Usability Requirements Section 16 Cultural and Political Requirements Section 17 Legal Requirements
10.9	Presenter, Adam Creighton	On-line readings for the 10/16 speaker Books of interest (summaries) Marketing Links are at the bottom of the page UI Assignment 5: Post a response to my query in our class forum by next class. [You must first "Register", make sure you note you're over 13. Then create your ID. Once you've established your ID, you may post responses in our class "Browning-TLC311" (I know the course number is incorrect).]
10.16	Presenter, David Schlosser	Humane Interface (Ch 4) Designing Visual Interfaces (Ch 4) Design of Everyday Things (pp 164-178)
10.23	Papers returned Explanation of revisions Mid-term questions Software lecture	An example of selective attention by the crystal cutters from my trip Work on your mid-term project Work on a revision to your paper
10.30	Mid-term Presentations Posting to the class forum Reviews of your group can be done on-line and are due by Sunday night	Humane Interface (Ch 5) Designing Visual Interfaces (Ch 5) Design of Everyday Things (Ch 7) Work on a revision to your paper Post a response to the class forum
11.6	Turn in your revisions Final project discussion Goals for tonight's class: Choose or brainstorm the UI for your final project Mail class list your topic in a short paragraph and address the following: Name of software to be designed or revamped Type of application Format of your final presentation/prototype	Humane Interface (Ch 6) Designing Visual Interfaces (Ch 6) On-line readings Go to MonkeyMEDIA's site and select the reference link. Read "Five Styles of Interaction." This is an important article, because you will have to identify the style of interaction used in your project.
11.13	Discuss Gould's article. The Interface Hall of Shame Compose answers to the questions below for discussion in class The primary goals of the product (what are you trying to do?) The nature of your audience (who is your target?) Potential implementation issues (how will you reach them?) What style of interaction are you using? Final project work	Post answer to the new question on the forum. On-line readings Experience Modeling (despite being Sapient related) Interaction Design Patterns We'll finish the readings next week.
11.20	I.D.'s annual awards for best design and their interactive media awards. Discuss final projects. Project work.	Work on your final projects.
11.27	Happy Thanksgiving.	Work on your final projects. I will be available for IM (on AIM as tlc331prof) on Monday, Dec. 2 and Tuesday, Dec. 3 from 9-10pm. Please don't hesitate to email me if you have questions. I will be working during the holiday. You may also mail the list.
12.4	Rules of the Final You must be on time. NO exceptions. You will have five minutes at the beginning of class to copy over your work to your student folder. If you are working in a group, please turn in your work to the projects folder. Name the folder "Final_LastName[s]" for ease of access. You may also bring in a CD or hard copy of your information. If you are doing a solo project, please copy it to your student folder. Name it the same way as above. Be sure to include a readme.txt if it's difficult to navigate. If you are doing an individual project, you will have 8 minutes to present. If you are doing a group project, you will have 10 minutes. I will hold you to these times. You must fill out an evaluation of your group to complete the final. I will post a link similar to the mid-term. Send me an email with your PF Chang's request. I will be ordering for the class. Share and share alike.	Present your final projects. If you were in a project group, fill out an evaluation of your group.