Following the 2004 Review of the Faculty of Information Technology this unit forms part of the Multimedia major established within the Bachelor of Information Technology and Systems degree.

This unit has been updated as part of a 2009 review and comparison of data with current Handbook, Syllabus + and Callista data.

30/11/2017 - Unit disestablished at FEC 5/17 Item 7.3.

This unit provides a detailed understanding of the principles and practices involved in the creation and implementation of user-centred interaction with multimedia products and systems in business, entertainment, education and social environments. Focus is given to the development of multimedia that enhances the efficiency, safety, functionality, usability and the aesthetic appeal of the user experience with multimedia at the interface between the user and the technology. That is, the development of technologies and tools, which aid the human mind (cognitive artefacts). This unit will explore both technologically determinist arguments and the socially deterministic ways in which technology might conform to human use and abilities.

This unit provides knowledge and skills which the student can apply within their third year studio project/s (FIT3039/3040) and across all subsequent units.

At the completion of this unit students will have -

A theoretical and conceptual understanding of:

• the concepts of cognitive science and the physiology of human perception and the importance of these disciplines to interface design for multimedia systems and products;
• understand the importance of psychological characteristics and capabilities of the user in the design and implementation of multimedia interfaces;
• the principles of user-centred interface design and the ways in which they might be implemented.

Developed attitudes that enable them to:

• appreciate importance of the role of the interface designer/developer as the mediator between the multimedia product and the user;
• appreciate the importance of ergonomic, health and safety issues in the development of user-centric multimedia interfaces.

Developed the skills to:

• integrate existing technological skills acquired from FIT1012 and FIT2012 to construct multimedia products and systems using principles of user-centred interface design;
• design, create and implement interfaces appropriate to both content and context;
• identify and evaluate the cognitive, physical and social contexts in which the user will interact with a multimedia product or system;
• evaluate existing interfaces in relation to user-centric principles.

Developed the teamwork skills needed to:

• design with an understanding of the effects of their own cultural/social background and preconceptions;
• evaluate their own and others interface design and implementation in relation to user-centric principles;
• enable them to design, create and implement interface systems appropriate for use by individuals from diverse educational, social and cultural backgrounds and diverse cognitive styles.

029999

This unit will provide a detailed understanding of the principles and practices involved in the creation and implementation of user-centred interaction with multimedia products and systems in a range of environments. Focus will be on the development of multimedia that enhances the efficiency, safety, functionality, usability and the aesthetic appeal of the user experience with multimedia at the interface between the user and the technology. Topics include: cognitive psychology, health and safety issues relating to interaction, interface design and implementation, evaluation and testing, affective aspects of technology, social implications of Human-Multimedia (Computer) interaction.

On-campus

Examination (2 hours): 25%; In-semester assessment: 75%

2 hrs lectures/wk, 2 hrs tutorials/wk

FIT

FIT2012