Usability Engineering (INFO30004)
Undergraduate level 3Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
Contact information
Semester 1
Ryan Kelly
Overview
| Availability | Semester 1 |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
AIMS
How do you design information and communication technologies that are useful, usable and satisfying? Usability Engineering addresses this question. Usability is now a vital part of the IT industry for both work and leisure. We can see usability (or the lack of it) in the design of tablets, aircraft cockpits, business software, car navigation devices, and many other technologies.
In this subject students will learn concepts and techniques integral to creating usable systems. These include: contextual analysis of human activities; principles for designing usable human computer interactions; styles of user interfaces; and methods to evaluate the usability of new designs. Students will also learn relevant theories underpinning these techniques including aspects of human cognition and the theory of natural design.
INDICATIVE CONTENT
- Theoretical foundations of Usability Engineering
- Understanding User Requirements
- Expert based evaluations (e.g. Cognitive Walkthroughs and Heuristic Evaluation)
- User based evaluations
- Prototyping (high fidelity and low fidelity)
- Analysis of Usability data
- Visual Design
- Social Computing
Intended learning outcomes
INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES (ILOs)
On completion of this subject the student is expected to:
- Define and distinguish between the different types of user interface,
- Exploit cognitive and social factors that make interactive software usable
- Apply key design principles and guidelines that assist user interface designers, and understand the limitations of such guidelines
- Apply techniques of Usability Engineering across the development lifecycle
- Develop a sound usability test and evaluation plan for a particular design project
Generic skills
On completion of this subject, students should have developed the following generic skills:
- Acquire design oriented problem-solving skills
- Review and research skills
- Team work skills
- Written and oral presentation skills
Last updated: 4 April 2025
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
50 points of Level 2 subjects:
| Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| INFO20003 | Database Systems |
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| SWEN20003 | Object Oriented Software Development |
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| COMP20003 | Algorithms and Data Structures | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| COMP20007 | Design of Algorithms | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| COMP20008 | Elements of Data Processing |
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
615-348 Human Computer Interaction
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 4 April 2025
Assessment
Additional details
- Assignment 1 - Group project (3-4 students) on user needs analysis of a particular situation of use, design of a paper prototype and a cognitive walkthrough. The assignment consists of a written report (3000-4000 words - 20%) and a presentation (10 minutes - 5%) due in week 6, requiring approximately 30 hours of work per group member. Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) 3 and 4 are addressed in this assignment.
- Assignment 2 - Group project (3-4 students) to create a digital prototype (based on the findings of assignment 1) and to conduct a usability evaluation of the prototype. Groups must report on the evaluation via a written report (3000-4000 words - 20%) and a presentation (10 minutes- 5%) due in week 12, requiring approximately 30 hours of work per group member. ILOs 4 and 5 are addressed in this assignment. Assignment 2 is a hurdle and must be passed to pass the subject.
- One written 2 hour closed book end of semester examination (50%). ILOs 1 to 4 are addressed in the examination. The examination is a hurdle and must be passed to pass the subject.
Hurdle Requirement: To pass the subject, students must obtain:
- at least 50% of the marks available in assignment 2
- at least 50% of the marks available in the examination
Last updated: 4 April 2025
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Principal coordinator Ryan Kelly Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 36 hours, comprising of two 1 hour lectures and one 1 hour tutorial per week. Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 4 March 2019 to 2 June 2019 Last self-enrol date 15 March 2019 Census date 31 March 2019 Last date to withdraw without fail 10 May 2019 Assessment period ends 28 June 2019 Semester 1 contact information
Ryan Kelly
Time commitment details
170 hours
Last updated: 4 April 2025
Further information
- Texts
- Subject notes
LEARNING AND TEACHING METHODS
The subject is delivered through a combination of two 1-hour lectures and one 1-hour tutorial each week, over twelve weeks. The lectures will address relevant theoretical and conceptual ideas and will include guest speakers from industry where appropriate. The tutorials will focus on the application of the theories and concepts through practical exercises and assignment work. Outside class students will study theory and cases through reading, they will work on their group assignment and participant in a lab-based usability study.
INDICATIVE KEY LEARNING RESOURCES
All relevant resources will be available on the Learning Management System (LMS). These include lecture slides, tutorial notes, recommended reading, extension material, and links to industry material.
CAREERS/INDUSTRY LINKS
This subject is relevant to careers as a usability engineer, interaction designer, information architect etc. Students will work on projects that will be applicable to real world cases. Speakers from Industry will be invited to give guest lectures. A collection of industry-based resources will be posted on the LMS.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Informal specialisation Science-credited subjects - new generation B-SCI Major Informatics Informal specialisation Selective subjects for B-BMED Specialisation (formal) Software with Business Major Computer Science - Breadth options
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Please note Single Subject Studies via Community Access Program is not available to student visa holders or applicants
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Additional information for this subject
Subject coordinator approval required
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
Last updated: 4 April 2025