Course Number: IAT 232
Course Title: Prototyping and Human Factors
Credit Hours: 3 Vector: 0-3-0
Course Description
Prototyping plays a critical role in the design, development and assessment of the physical relationship between people and technology. This course examines the role and value of different prototyping techniques in assessing human factors and ergonomics as well as the functional and visual characteristics of new design concepts. Projects will introduce students to the concept of human factors and ergonomics and explore physical prototyping techniques ranging from paper prototyping to basic model building.
Prerequisite:
IAT 231.
Recommended: None.
Corequisite: None.
Special Instructions: None.
Course(s) to be dropped if this course is approved:
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?
Indicate Semester and Year this course would be first offered and planned frequency of offering thereafter.
2005-1 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?
SIAT Faculty.
Are there any proposed student fees associated with this course other than tuition fees?
No.
Is this course considered a `duplicate' of any current or prior course under the University's duplicate course policy? Specify, as appropriate.
No.
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?
No.
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.
No.
In this course students will:
Develop an understanding of human factors as they relate the design and development of interactive products and systems
Develop an understanding of the relationship between human factors and the need for prototyping and testing
Develop methodology for prototyping interactive products and systems to meet the requirements at various stages of the design development process
Explore a range of prototyping techniques
Develop an understanding of the elements necessary to communicate information on audience, action, and context through visual representation
Demonstrate ability to synthesize appropriate application of various prototyping techniques to meet the requirements at various stages of the design development process
This course examines the role of prototyping in the design, development and assessment of the physical relationship between people and technology for interactive products. Different prototyping methods can be used to test different aspects of a project throughout the design development process and students will learn to anlayse the elements of interaction and determine which issues can be dealt with most effectively using which prototyping techniques.
The course begins with a survey of the theory and development of prototyping skills and techniques that have evolved over the past 50 years in the field of design. Students will be introduced to a range of prototyping techniques ranging from paper prototyping to basic model building. The course will then examine in more depth the value of different prototyping techniques for assessing human factors and ergonomics as well as the functional and visual characteristics of new design concepts through a progressive series of weekly projects.
Lectures and readings complement the studio assignments by providing an historical, theoretical and critical understanding of the techniques explored.
Delivery Method: Studio Lab (SL)
Web Presentation - .5 hours
Offline Reading - 1 hour
Studio lab and Workshop Sessions - 3 hours
Assignments - 3 hours
Total Hours - 7.5 Hours
Weekly Assignments 40%
Major Project 40%
Participation 20%
Course Pak