Course content

This course will give knowledge and skills within usability and human factors. It will cover the following topics:

• Core human factors in design
• Understanding user requirements
• Cognitive dimensions of interaction
• Design methods and processes
• Universal design of ICT
• Digital accessibility and inclusive design
• Usability evaluation methods
• Advanced usability testing metrics

Learning outcome

The student, upon completion of this course, will have:

Knowledge

• Advanced knowledge of the term usability and user experience and their critical importance, as well as cognitive issues related to user behavior, and have specialized knowledge on a limited topic within usability
• Advanced knowledge of understanding user requirements
• Advanced knowledge of the universal design of ICT, accessible and inclusive design, and evaluation
• Ability to recognize, analyze, compare, and apply various usability heuristics and methods
• In-depth knowledge of advanced usability testing metrics

Skills

• Conduct effective user research, including various data collecting methods such as interviews, observations, and surveys
• Apply design thinking and user-centered methodologies to create prototypes
• Plan and perform usability evaluation, recruit participants, and analyze test results
• Interpret usability metrics such as error rate and satisfaction petrics
• Discuss requirements for the design of user interfaces in digital media with regard to human factors and end-user needs

Overall competence

• Be able to develop an understanding of and reflect upon theory, definitions, and concepts in the field of usability and human factors and contribute to the improvement of existing designs

Learning methods and activities

Forms of learning include: seminars, presentations and lectures

This course is offered to international master students. Language of instruction is English.

Compulsory assignments

• Oblig1 - Problem Space
• Oblig2 - Data Gathering
• Oblig3 - Design
• Oblig4 - Evaluation

Specific conditions

Course materials

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

Lee, J.D., Wickens, C.D., Liu, Y., & Boyle, L.N. (2017). Designing for People: An Introduction to Human Factors Engineering. 3rd Edition.

Credit reductions