CMSC 198M Designing our Future: The Mobility Initiative
This course is by permission only, and is meant for students in the
Mobility Initiative pilot project.
Interested students should contact Evan Golub
(egolub@cs.umd.edu).
In this course, we will be exploring principles in design
and Human-Computer Interaction.
Our thematic focus will be mobile devices in the University
environment
and validating hardware
and software project concepts and
prototypes.
Among the class activities, you will:
generate low-fidelity prototypes for new mobile ideas
work with other students in the pilot to help each other
express ideas you have for new applications
work with other faculty and staff in the pilot to explore ideas
for new applications together
learn how to be available as usability testers for faculty
who are designing class sites to be iPod Touch/iPhone-friendly
The course will have a number of components, integrated over the
course of the Winter Term session. The class meets for classroom
time from 11:00-12:30 and 1:30-3:00 from Monday through Thursday.
On Friday during the same times, the class will meet primarily to
work on a design project in the morning, and peer reviews of the
outcomes in the afternoon.
Some Topics We Will Explore
BACKGROUND and HCI
how everyday objects are designed, and how these design principles
can relate to computer hardware and software too
an overview of the history of HCI and some of the key
concepts that are "obvious" now but were far from
obvious in early systems
the differences between system-centric, task-centric, and
user-centric design
low-fidelity prototyping and how it can be used to
accomplish a variety of goals within the design
process, from early "blue-sky" brainstorming all the
way through mock-ups for testing ideas before you
invest time in building working systems
working with actual users, through four different
levels of interaction and involvement (this will
include usability testing techniques as well as
design techniques)
some of the issues in psychology that heavily impact
and influence how we need to approach designing new
systems and updating existing systems
CHALLENGES of the MOBILE FORM FACTOR
issues surrounding small-screen design, from interaction
with the device to representing information in small
spaces without proportionately limiting the amount of
information that can be presented
how the form factor, UI, and networking framework of mobiles like the
iPhone/iPod Touch introduce different abilities and issues
than desktops, laptops, and other some previous mobiles
NEW CONTEXTS enabled by MOBILE DEVICES
how having a small, web-enabled device can change the classroom
experience in different types of courses
how social computing changes with the introduction of ubiquitous
mobiles on a campus
work to identify what is "missing" from the application landscape
of mobiles on campus
Course Logistics
Projects and writing assignments during the semester would be centered
around mobile platforms (such as the iPod touch and iPhone) and the
experiences you have had as a part of the Mobility Initiative pilot.
You will explore desired extensions
of this pilot, and also applications that you would want to see as freshmen
at the University and as mobile users in general.
Readings will be comprised of selected readings from scholarly
sources such as the ACM Digital Library, sample chapters from
books, as well as topical and applicable articles in respected
newspapers and magazines.
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