User Interfaces

CS 4393/5153

TR 3:30-4:45

SB 2.02.10

Course Description:

A study of the major topics in user interfaces and human-computer interaction (HCI), including –

-Interaction paradigms and frameworks

-Guidelines, Principles, and Theories of Interaction Design

-Interaction design process and methodology

-Understanding and modeling users

-Usability and Evaluation methods

We will directly apply these concepts in class with case studies, at home with programming assignments, and in the final group project: developing and evaluating an augmented reality game. Interfaces are an integral part of game development and game play. You will use C#, Microsoft Visual Studio 2008, and the GoblinXNA game engine to develop games and game interfaces. For example, here is a simple game I made in GoblinXNA:

Dragon Battle and Dragon Battle AR

Dragon Battle (left) uses a keyboard and mouse interface and is played on a standard desktop. Dragon Battle AR (right) is played using a touch screen tablet PC interface with a webcam. What are the differences in how we design and develop these interfaces? How do these different interfaces affect the user? To answer questions like these, in this course you will learn to create game interfaces and evaluate them through usability studies.

*The 3D dragon model is from Bethesda’s Oblivion and was also modded by Saidenstorm. I animated it in Blender, imported it into GoblinXNA and created new interactions, particle animations, and physics for it.