Course Mobile and Physical Interaction

WS 2009/2010

Dr. Michael Rohs

Description:

This course introduces students to human-computer interaction with mobile and wearable devices. Students will learn the relevant concepts of human-computer interaction as well as the basics of mobile technologies. Students will get an overview of the specific problems of mobile interaction and learn methods for developing and evaluating user interfaces for mobile devices. The focus will be on user-centered design thinking in mobile use contexts. Topics include the fundamental capabilities of humans, iterative design and design principles, the development of prototypes, and basic methods of evaluation. Technical aspects will also be discussed, such as linking mobile devices to large displays and smart environments, and sensor-based input.

Course discussion group

Topics:

1. Introduction to mobile interaction and overview of its history
2. Mobile device platforms and programming environments, such as Java ME, Symbian, Android, iPhone OS, Windows Mobile
3. Input and output methods and technologies for mobile devices, such as mobile text entry for small keypads, handheld projection, multitouch screens
4. Mobile wireless communication technologies, including GSM, UMTS, Bluetooth, WLAN
5. Fundamentals of perception and cognition
6. Models and concepts of human-computer interaction
7. Iterative human-centered design process
8. Prototyping, in particular paper prototyping
9. Evaluation of mobile interaction
10. Visualization and interaction techniques for small displays
11. Location-based services and context
12. Sensor-based and camera-based mobile interaction
13. Application areas of mobile technologies
14. Social aspects of using mobile technology in the presence of others, such as in public places

Lecture:

Assignments:

References:

• Matt Jones, Gary Marsden: Mobile Interaction Design. Wiley, 2006. ISBN 978-0-470-09089-3.
• Alan Dix, Janet Finlay, Gregory Abowd, Russell Beale: Human Computer Interaction. 3rd Edition, Prentice Hall, 2004. ISBN 0-13-046109-1.
• Jennifer Preece, Yvonne Rogers, Helen Sharp: Interaction Design: Beyond Human Computer Interaction. 2nd Edition, John Wiley & Sons, 2002. ISBN 0-471-49278-7.
• Donald A. Norman: The Design Of Everyday Things. Basic Books (Perseus), 2002. ISBN 0465067107.
• Carolyn Snyder: Paper Prototyping: The Fast and Easy Way to Design and Refine User Interfaces. Morgan Kaufmann, 2003. ISBN 1558608702.
• Clayton Lewis, John Rieman: Task-Centered User Interface Design, Chapter 1: The Task-Centered Design Process, Chapter 2: Getting to Know Users and Their Tasks, 1993.
• Sayed Y. Hashimi, Satya Komatineni: Pro Android. Apress, 2009. ISBN 1430215968. Author's site.
• Android Developer Pages
• iPhone Dev Center
• Symbian OS
• Windows Mobile

Further Links:

• ACM Special Interest Group in Human-Computer Interaction (ACM SIGCHI)
• Fachbereich Mensch-Computer-Interaktion der Gesellschaft für Informatik e.V. (GI)
• HCI Bibliography: Human-Computer Interaction Resources
• The Alertbox: Current Issues in Web Usability