Program Overview

Course Overview

The Human Computer Interaction course, SWEN 422, covers the principles of human-computer interaction that underlie good design of software user interfaces. Advanced topics are introduced with a focus on current research areas.

Course Details

• Dates: 24 February 2025 to 22 June 2025
• Starts: Trimester 1
• Fees:
  • NZ$1,197.60 for domestic students
  • NZ$5,477.70 for international students
• Lecture Start Times:
  • Wednesday 2.10pm
  • Friday 2.10pm
• Campus: Kelburn
• Estimated Workload: Approximately 150 hours or 8.8 hours per week for 17 weeks
• Points: 15

Entry Restrictions

• Prerequisites: One of (COMP 313, SWEN 303, SWEN 325)
• Corequisites: None
• Restrictions: None

Taught By

The School of Engineering and Computer Science — Faculty of Engineering

Disclaimer

This course outline may be subject to change.

Key Dates

Important dates, including mid-trimester teaching breaks, can be found on the University's key dates calendar. Assessment dates will be announced once the course has begun.

About This Course

This course is designed for in-person study, and students are strongly recommended to attend lectures on campus. Most assessment items, as well as tutorials/seminars/labs/workshops, will only be available in person. Exceptions for in-person attendance for assessment will be considered on a case-by-case basis in exceptional circumstances.

Course Learning Objectives

Students who pass this course will be able to:

1. Place research on HCI in the context of previous research and contemporary issues.
2. Demonstrate knowledge of key HCI challenges (both technical and ethical) in the use of information visualization, digital exchange systems, and Virtual Reality / Augmented Reality.
3. Develop a software system that utilizes information visualization techniques.
4. Utilize user-testing techniques to evaluate a software system's user interface, designing such user-testing to take into account statistical, ethical, and reproducibility/replicability considerations.

How This Course Is Taught

This course is designed for in-person study, with in-person lectures that will be live-streamed and recorded, as well as online videos and reading material. It is possible to take the course entirely online for those who cannot attend on campus, with all components provided in-person also made available online. All assessment items can be completed online.

Assessment

• A1: Individual report (30%)
• A2: Essay (30%)
• A3: Group Project (40%)

Group Work

There is one group project in the course. In this assignment, 25% of the mark will be a group mark awarded to all contributing students. The other 75% of the mark will be an individual mark awarded based on the contribution and critical reflection demonstrated by the student.

Lecture Times and Rooms

• 24 February 2025 to 13 April 2025
• 28 April 2025 to 1 June 2025

What You'll Need to Get

You do not need to get any texts or equipment for this course.