HCID 520: User Interface Software and Technology

Amy, Jayne, and Claire

We’re excited to learn with you this quarter!

Let’s do teacher introductions.

Hello, I’m Amy (she/her)

Professor in the Information School

Computer science

Behavioral sciences

Learning sciences

Design

I come to this as an inventor, critic, and entrepreneur

Debugging tools that answer “why?”

Creative coding platforms for literacy

Coding tutorials for rapid learning

Smart code editors

Single-click help systems

AnswerDash has served instant Q&A to millions and was acquired in 2020.

Books that prepare future designers, engineers, and educators to think critically about the future of computing

You’ll find me to be a critical inventor, but also a technology skeptic, grounded in science and social theory.

hi i’m jayne! (she/her)

out sick today :(

• my background is education and educational neuroscience (and i’m working on a phd in cs)
• i really love p5’s online editor (editor.p5js.org)
• lately, i’ve been super into visible mending and would love to chat more about that if you are too

Meet Claire!

(she/her)

PhD student in Information Science

• My background is in bioengineering, specifically biomechanics and wearable sensing

What are we here to learn about?

My broader view this degree

To me, MHCI+D is about creating critical, creative interaction designers, product managers, and design-literate developers to make a more useful, usable, equitable world of computing.

User research is part of that, design methods are part of that, having facility with interactive media is part of that.

So what role does this class play in that vision?

A metaphor

If you were studying painting, you might have a class on paint, color theory, and human perception.

This is that class, but for interaction design. Instead, we’ll talk about input, output, algorithms, perception, cognition, and human values.

What are computer interfaces?

What kinds have we invented?

What kinds haven’t we invented?

Why do they work the way they do?

How could they work differently?

What can we not change about them?

There are so many interesting interfaces to learn about!

We’re going to talk about

• Programming interfaces
• Graphical interfaces
• Tangible interfaces
• Dialog interfaces
• and more!

Let’s meet you!

In <30 seconds:

• Name
• Optional pronouns
• Disciplinary background
• An interface you adore (e.g., you think about it, care for it, depend on it, love it)

Let’s talk through the syllabus. Raise your hand or post in Discord #help if you have a question.

Questions here or in #help?

Warm up group activity for the weekend

What’s an interface you despise and why?

• Something that frustrates you
• Something you want to delete forever
• Something that triggers anxiety

Gather in small groups and discuss. Together, try to figure out why you despise it so much. What is it doing wrong? What do your reasons have in common?

After 5 minutes, select someone to share that common principle of why you despise it.

These reasons for liking and not liking interfaces are the beginning of understanding what interfaces are and what makes them good. By the end of this quarter, you’re going to be much more precise about articulating them!

What’s next

• Read the required chapter on history
• Read the required research paper
• Read/listen to a selected resource of your choice
• Write an informed opinion and come read to (maybe) present it

We’ll start your first SWOT on Tuesday.