What you will study
This module will help you to answer the following kinds of question:
Why are some websites easier to use than others?
Why do people have difficulty using some software packages and not others?
How can paper prototypes help improve the design of mobile phones?
How can I assess the usability of a video game?
As a user, how can I get involved in the re-design of a new information system at work?
How and why should I find out more about the users of a software system I’m building?
What problems might people with disabilities face when using a software application and how can designs be improved to avoid these problems?
What issues should you consider if you wish to design a website to appeal to people from a different country?
The module is based on the book Interaction Design. To help you explore, understand and deepen your understanding of the topics in this set book, the module includes additional materials such as further activities and extra teaching text, for example on accessibility and internationalisation. It is structured into four blocks.
The first block provides a broad overview of interaction design, introducing the key issues and activities of the subject, for example, the terminology and fundamental concepts of the area; the main activities involved in interaction design; and the importance of user involvement in the design process. The issues and activities introduced in Block 1 are developed in the remainder of the module. In particular, the three main activities of interaction design are covered in Blocks 2, 3 and 4.
Block 2 addresses a key activity in interaction design: that of establishing requirements for an interactive product, i.e. what it should do, who will use it, how it will be used, where it will be used and so on. Some of this material may be familiar to you if you have studied any software development modules in the past, but we approach the subject with a different perspective: focusing on making the product usable for the intended population.
The next block covers the techniques and knowledge necessary to design an interactive product that is accessible and useful to the people who are expected to use it. This includes an understanding of interaction types and interface types, metaphors, conceptual models, cognitive processes (involving memory, attention, learning, etc.), and the use of design approaches for a variety of interactive products such as mobile phones and websites.
Block 4 presents the techniques and knowledge necessary to evaluate an interactive product. This includes an ethical framework for evaluating with users, techniques and tips for observing users, asking experts and users, and testing with users.
If you are considering progressing to The computing and IT project (TM470), this is one of the OU level 3 modules on which you could base your project topic. Normally, you should have completed one of these OU level 3 modules (or be currently studying one) before registering for the project module.