KV7005 - Intelligent User Interfaces

Students will learn through weekly workshops which will combine lectures about key issues, topics and theories in IUI application, and hands-on practical skill learning and practice for doing IUI design, prototyping and evaluation work. This will be accompanied by a live group project in which they will respond to a client brief to design and prototype an interactive artefact or experience for social change. Students will also complete a piece of substantial desk-based research (essay) to motivate, document, and critically reflect on their project work.

Support on the module will be provided by the module team, e.g:

o The designated Module tutor and associated teaching staff (faculty members – the module team) including practical class support from PhD students and Post-docs working in the area of Human-Computer Interaction. The module team, will provide support for students including answering student queries and providing guidance in relation to the module, including its assessment and the student’s academic progress. You can seek support in-class and can also request it outside of class time via appointment (see ‘Communication with staff’)

o Communication with staff – this is supported in a number of ways, including:
o Email – you will be to contact members of staff via email
o eLearning Portal (eLP) - this is used to providing you with specific information related to the module, such as copies of lecture and seminar handouts, assignment briefings, instructions, and announcements
o Appointments - members of staff operate an open-door policy. However, as academic staff may teach on many modules/programmes and be engaged in research activities, you are advised to make an appointment to see them.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

Knowledge & Understanding:
1. Development and trajectory (History and Future) of IUIs
2. Understanding design and evaluation principles and techniques for IUIs
3. Understanding of specific application areas of IUIs
Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
4. Design, prototyping and demonstration of an IUI concept

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
5. Demonstrate critical engagement with ethical challenges of the application of IUIs in different contexts.

Two courseworks (100%):

Project prototype and presentation/demo (60%) (MLO 2, 4) [working to a brief set by an external ‘client’ individual students will prototype and present an IUI concept design demonstrating how they have considered user-needs and requirements in the development of the design concept – depending on the brief set each year.]

Individual essay (40%) (MLO 1, 3, 5) [a 2000 word critical reflection on a topic set each year which will require desk-based research, furthering understanding developed through the lecture material provided.]

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This module gives you a detailed understanding of Intelligent User Interfaces and how to design them. As technology becomes more complex, it is increasingly common to use AI to enhance the user experience. Interacting with automated systems such as chatbots online or devices such as Amazon’s Alexa at home or even driving in an automated vehicle on the road, all bring users into interaction with ‘Intelligent User Interfaces’ (IUIs). This module gives you the practical knowledge to understand the practical advantages and potential disadvantages of such technologies and the skills to understand how to design and evaluate them well, from a human-centred perspective, optimising the user experience.