overview of the undergraduate major in hci human computer interaction institute school of computer...
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Overview of theUndergraduate Major in HCI
Human Computer Interaction InstituteSchool of Computer ScienceCarnegie Mellon University
Jason HongNewell Simon Hall 2504D
What is HCII?
Our Department’s Mission• Understand and create technology that
harmonizes with and improves human capabilities, goals, and social environments through interdisciplinary research and education in design, computer science, and behavioral and social sciences
What Makes HCI dynamic?
• CMU has the best Human-Computer Interaction program in the country
• One of the few with an undergraduate major• Cutting edge, futuristic• Tight integration of
– Technology– Behavioral Science– Design
• Breadth and Depth– The students themselves– Our interdisciplinary faculty
Our Educational Philosophy at HCII
Take excellent students with depth in one discipline relevant to HCI and give them the educational opportunity to “walk in the shoes” of the other disciplines relevant to HCI.
This will make the students more effective members of interdisciplinary groups in industry.
On the Philosophy…
• A second major in HCI will provide students – Basic skills for designing and implementing
user-centered software– Appreciation of the varied skills necessary
to make usable interactive products– Ability to communication with specialists in
other areas
• It will not make software developers into designers or psychologists into programmers
User Centered Design
Implement
Evaluate design Produce design solutions
Understand context of useand the “problem”
• Multiple iterations, with increasing realism
The Many Disciplines of HCI
Evaluation
Design
Implementation
Flash, Director, Visual Basic, HTML, Databases, Java, C++, GUI toolkits. UI architectures
ColorLayoutGraphic DesignInteraction Design
Human behavior
Human FactorsCognitive PsychologyMotivationGroup behavior
• Think alouds • Heuristic evaluation• GOMs• Interviews• Focus groups
• Cognitive walk-throughs • Surveys• Experiments• Statistical analysis
HCI Curriculum
Core Courses
• Introduction to HCI Methods– Use empirical and analytical methods to figure
out what users want, will find easy-to-use, easy to learn, and/or fun
• Basic Interaction Design– Translate between problem definitions and
innovative designs• Technology core differs by prior experience
– Programming Usable Interfaces (PUI)for non-CS majors
– Software Architecture for User Interfaces (SAUI)for CS majors
• Project Course
Project Course Goals
• Apply HCI skills on a large project• Work in interdisciplinary teams (3-4 people)• Work with real clients
• Learn to write reports• Learn to give presentations
3D Dentistry
CMU Court Reservation System
Now in use at UC!Basis of (failed) small business!
End System MulticastNow in use
by ESM team!
Classroom Controls
Now in usein CMU classrooms!
Typical Week for Project
• Project meeting with client• One or more internal project meetings
among selves• Enrichment lectures• Working towards artifact
– Contextual inquiry, lo-fi prototype, hi-fi prototype, user study
• Typically 30-40 hours per team per week
Elective Courses
– Building Virtual Worlds– Human Factors– Intelligent Tutoring
Systems– Predictive Cognitive
Modeling– Rapid Prototyping of
Computer Systems– Advanced Topics UI
Software
– Computer Supported Cooperative Work
– Computers in Organizations
– Speech Recognition and Understanding
– Applied machine learning – Introduction to Product
Design– Dramatic Structure of
Interactive Games
• Can be in any part of the university– Business, CFA, Robotics, H&SS, Entertainment
Technologies
• Many HCI-specific courses
Business• Marketing Management• Writing and Decision Making • Interactive Marketing
Leveraging Technology• Marketing Communications
and Buyer Behavior • Introduction to
Entrepreneurship • Entrepreneurial Thought
and Action• Technology
Commercialization Workshop
• Managing Intellectual Capital in Knowledge Intensive Businesses
• Consulting and Conflict Resolution
Other Popular Electives Around the University
EntertainmentTechnology
• Game Design• Critical Interaction
Design
Language andCommunication
• On-line Information Design
• Film at the Limits of Imagination
• Writing for Multimedia• Multimedia Authoring I• Document Design• Professional Writing• Professional Speaking
Robotics• DARPA Grand Challenge
(Red Team)• Introduction to Mobile
Robots
More Popular Electives
Computer Science
• Technology Consulting in the Community
• Web Application Development
• Engineering Software Intensive Systems
• Human Aspects of Software Engineering
• Architectures for Software Systems
• Computers and Security• Artificial Intelligence
Design
• Designing Identities• Understanding Perception
Through Design• Design‚ Management and
Organizational Behavior • Designing for Service• Mapping and Diagramming• Color and Communication• How Things Are Made• Product Planning • Sketching and Modeling• Industrial Design
Fundamentals• Conceptual Models• Methodology of
Visualization • Typographic Play
Behavioral Sciences
• Perception • Human Information
Processing and Artificial Intelligence
• Interpersonal Relationships • Evolutionary Psychology • Research Methods for
– Cognitive Psychology– Social Psychology– Developmental Psychology– Learning Sciences
• Organizational Behavior• Human Expertise• Applications of Cognitive
Science• Cognitive Modeling
Independent Study
• Many students do an independent study to explore a particular area in depth
• Personalized, a negotiation between the student and a professor– Can be in any department, just like any other elective– Often grows out of personal contacts after taking class
with an instructor– I send out announcements at beginning of semester
BHCI vs MHCI Program Requirements
MHCI• 3 Prerequisites
– Freshman-level programming– Statistics (thru multivariate
regression)– Design – equivalent of CDF
• 4 Core courses– HCI Methods + Lab
– Interface and Interaction Design– HCI Programming (PUI/SAUI)– HCI Pro-seminar
• MHCI Project (2 semesters)• 5 Electives (4 if also taking CDF)
BHCI• 4 Prerequisites
– Freshman-level programming– Statistics (thru multivariate
regression)– Design – equivalent of CDF– Cognitive psychology
• 4 Core courses– HCI Methods (no lab)– Evaluation– Basic Interaction Design– HCI Programming (PUI/SAUI)
• BHCI Project (1 semester)• 2 Electives
Accelerated Masters Option• Complete a masters degree in 2 semesters past BA or BS• More in-depth project course (spring + summer)• 5 electives (most at Masters level)• Pro-seminar (outside lectures & meetings with visiting
HCI researchers and professionals)
Fall Spring Summer Fall
Standard Masters
2 Core Core Project II
Proseminar Project I
2Elective 3 Electives
Accelerated Masters
(Undergrad Senior Year)
Project II 4 Electives
Project I Proseminar
.
.
Careers In HCI
• Undergraduates get good jobs & job offers
Degree Median salary offer
Bachelors, HCI $73,000
Computer $72,000
Psychology $40,000
Information Systems $58,600
Communication Design $32,000
Masters, HCI $83,000
Recent Job Opportunities(Since Feb 1, 2007)(from Usability Professionals' Association)
• Siemens Medical – User interaction designer• Marriott International – Senior user researcher• Digitas – Interaction designer• PayPal – User experience researcher• The KOHL Group – User interaction designer• Tec-Ed – User Experience Project Manager & Researcher • Insight Enterprises – Customer experience manager• College Center for Library Automation – Usability analyst• Google – User researcher• Lands End – User interface designer• Amazon – User interface designer• Electronic Arts – Interface designer• Travelocity – Information architect• Microsoft – Human factors/Interaction designer• Whirlpool – Voice user interface designer• GE Healthcare – User interface/graphic designer• Verizon – User experience manager
Companies Where B/MHCI Alumni Work
• Accenture• Adobe• Aduna• Agitar Software• Allstate Insurance• Amazon.Com• Apple• Autodesk• Boeing• Brulant• Carnegie Mellon• Citadel Investment • Citrix Systems• Colorado State University• Cook Vascular • Corel• Doubleclick• The Wall Street Journal
Online• Duda Paine Architects• Electronic Arts
• Endeca Technologies• Friendfeed• Frog Design• General Dynamics• Google• Guidewire Software• Hewlett-Packard• Hillcrest Labs• Hindustan Times, New Delhi• Honeywell Labs• Humancentric• IBM• Intel• Johnson Controls• Keane Federal Systems, Inc.• Linden Lab• Linkedin• Logical Design Solutions• Microsoft• Motorola• NASA
• Oracle Corp• Pitney Bowes• Pixar• Qualcomm• Ricoh Americas • Sapient• Scholastic• Soar Technology• SRI International• T-Mobile • Tellme Networks• The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust• The University Of Pittsburgh• University Of Michigan• UPMC• Verizon• Wellspring Worldwide, A
Company I Co-Founded Before Hcii
• Yahoo!• Yahoo!• Zeta Associates• Zühlke Engineering
Plus ~15% have started their own companies
Admission to the Major• 25 Students / Graduating Year • Applications due by Friday, March 21, 2008• Follow instructions on the website
– Statement of purpose – Why is HCI for you?– Proposed course schedule– Letter of reference (optional)– www.hcii.cmu.edu/Academics/Undergrad/applying/applying.html
• Decisions announced by Registration Week• Criteria
– QPA (threshold 3.0+)– Diversity & courses taken– Relevance and clarity in statement of purpose– Viable plan for completing major – Available Slots
More InformationJason HongNSH 2504D(Temporary) Director of Undergraduate [email protected] 412 268 1251
Robert KrautDirector of Undergraduate ProgramNSH [email protected] 268-7694
Nicole WillisProgram Coordinator300 S. Craig Street Room [email protected]