CPSC 781
Advanced Topics in Human Computer Interaction

The topics covered will change year by year depending on current advances in human computer interaction.

For Fall, 2005 the course will concentrate on giving students a detailed introduction to selected topics in Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW).

Information specific to the Fall 2005 offering

 

Instructor Saul Greenberg
  • Saul is a Professor of Computer Science at the University of Calgary. His primary research and teaching area is Human Computer Interaction.
Schedule Monday and Wednesday 10:00 - 11:15. 
Course content For Fall, 2005, this course will cover selected topics of immediate interest to students and the instructor in:
  • Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW)
Readings
  • All course readings can be found here. The readings also give the basics of the course content.
Additional seminars
  • EPresence seminars on CSCW topics given at other instructors at other institutions will be assigned as well. Go here for Instructions on how to access these presentations.
Wiki A course Wiki can be found here. Add to it at your leisure
Course structure The course is a combination reading, seminar and project course.
  • A list of key readings, organized by topic, will be provided to students. During class, a student  will present the topic, and lead a discussion of the readings and their implications. Students will be expected to take ownership of particular topics.
  • Students will be expected to view and summarize epresence lectures as assigned to them.
  • Independent projects will be proposed and completed by students.
  • Several groupware toolkits will be introduced, and students will have to create working prototypes applying these toolkits to show that they have mastered them.
Evaluation
  • 30% topic presentations. Includes:
    • researching and gathering necessary background materials for selected topics;
    • introducing each  topic as a class presentation.
    • writing an introduction to one topic, to be distributed to the class, written in the style of a book chapter. Relevant citations must be included.
    • participation in active discussion of each other's topic presentations
  • 15% coding exercises. Students must produce working systems that show their understanding and application of several groupware toolkits.
  • 5% summaries of selected papers/lectures that summarize either selected papers or e-presence lectures assigned in class.
  • 50% project. All projects must have as part of its deliverables a demonstration and / or presentation and a 10 page paper in ACM CSCW format and style. Possible projects include (to be approved by course instructor)
    • A major software development project implementing CSCW architectures or
    • an evaluation of a CSCW system and/or setting or
    • a student-suggested project related to CSCW
Deliverables and deadlines
  • topic presentations.
    • all: required papers must be read before each class
    • each person's assigned topic presentation:
      • due on date as scheduled by the instructor
      • included delivery of electronic copy of presentation
      • one week after: 'chapter' paper due
  • Coding exercises. Due dates to be provided. Must include web page that includes archived source, executables, and a demonstration to the instructor / class.
  • Summaries of selected papers/lectures due as assigned, usually within a few days of their reading/viewing.
  • Project. All projects must have as part of its deliverables a demonstration and / or presentation and a 10 page paper in ACM CSCW format and style. Possible projects include (to be approved by course instructor)
    • Sept 19: 1/2 page short proposal due (discussion with instructor to follow)
    • Sept 26: full (1 page) proposal due
    • Oct 3: ethics application submitted, if needed
    • Oct 17: 1 page progress report submitted
    • Nov 28 - Dec 7: demonstration/presentation of project
    • Dec 7: Paper due

Generic Information about 781

 

Calendar Entry The topics covered will change year by year depending on current advances in human computer interaction.
Prerequisites Computer Science 481 or equivalent. Computer Science 581 and/or 681 or equivalent are highly recommended.
  • This course is intended for students planning research in some aspect of HCI or related areas. Students should already be familiar with human computer interactionthrough course work (e.g., CPSC 481), through relevant industrial experience, through related cross-disciplinary work (such as human factors). If you are not sure if you are eligible, please contact the instructor.
The Audience This course is oriented towards graduates and professionals who have serious interest in Human Computer Interaction and the specific topics offered in particular years. Typical students are:
  • computer science graduates whose research work includes some aspect of human computer interaction, computer supported cooperative work and/or Ubiquitous computing
  • software engineers who are experienced designers of user interfaces
  • psychology and/or educational psychology graduates with a background in human factors who are interested in specialized topics in Human Computer Interaction
  • highly motivated senior undergraduates wishing to take advanced topics in Human Computer Interaction
Expectations This course has a workload typical of an intense graduate course. Students are expected to be up to date with the readings before class, to participate fully in all class discussions and activities, and to work reasonably independently on their assignments. The minimum standard of all evaluation deliverables are that they be done at a highly professional level. Sloppy or half-hearted work will not be accepted. 

Only students meeting these expectations can expect to pass this course.