New Course Proposal - IAT 231-3 Visualizing Interaction

T. Calvert, School of Interactive Arts and Technology

February 15, 2004

Calendar Information

Visualizing Interaction explores the theory and development of visual thinking and communication skills students will require to investigate and communicate the dynamics of interaction. Students will be introduced to a range of rapid visualization techniques including 2-d and perspective sketching, schematic representation, information graphics, visual explanations and storyboarding through a progressive series of visualization projects.

Rationale for Introduction of this Course

This is a foundation course for the Interaction Design curriculum.

Will this be a required or elective course in the curriculum; probable enrolment when offered?

Required; enrolment estimated at 100 per year.

Scheduling and Registration Information

Indicate Semester and Year this course would be first offered and planned frequency of offering thereafter.

2004-3 and annually thereafter.

Which of your present CFL faculty have the expertise to offer this course? Will the course be taught by sessional or limited term faculty?

Are there any proposed student fees associated with this course other than tuition fees?

Is this course considered a `duplicate' of any current or prior course under the University's duplicate course policy? Specify, as appropriate.

Resource Implications

Note: Senate has approved (S.93-11) that no new course should be approved by Senate until funding has been committed for necessary library materials. Each new course proposal must be accompanied by a library report and, if appropriate, confirmation that funding arrangements have been addressed.

Provide details on how existing instructional resources will be redistributed to accommodate this new course. For instance, will another course be eliminated or will the frequency of offering of other courses be reduced; are there changes in pedagogical style or class sizes that allow for this additional course offering.

New course materials will be required.

Does the course require specialized space or equipment not readily available in the department or university, and if so, how will these resources be provided?

Does this course require computing resources (e.g. hardware, software, network wiring, use of computer laboratory space) and if so, describe how they will be provided.

Course Outline

Course Description

This course addresses the problem of communicating concepts involving the dynamic interaction between people and technology. At one end of the spectrum, written and verbal communication have serious limitations in depicting the mechanics of physical interaction. At the other extreme physical prototyping to demonstrate concepts can be exceedingly complex, time consuming and costly. Visual communication techniques can provide a timely and cost effective means to initiate a productive dialogue with prospective users that can help identify both the strengths and weaknesses of a concept.

This course will introduce the theory and development of visual thinking and communication skills and techniques that have evolved over the past 50 years in the field of design. Students will learn to anlayse the elements of interaction and develop techniques to visually communicate the dynamics of the event in context. Students will be introduced to a range of rapid visualization techniques to clarify communication including two dimensional and perspective sketching, schematic representation, information graphics, visual explanations as well as the more dynamic forms of storyboarding and scenario development through a progressive series of weekly visualization projects.

Lectures and readings complement the studio assignments by providing an historical, theoretical and critical understanding of the techniques explored.

Learning Activities:

Evaluation:

Text, Resources & Materials

Rapid Viz: A New Method for the Rapid Visualization of Ideas, Hanks & Belliston, William Kaufmann, Inc., Los Altos, 1980