Human-Computer Interaction
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
The course aims to provide students with an in-depth understanding of the principles, methodologies, and technologies governing human-computer interaction, with a particular focus on designing effective user experiences and digital communication mediated by technology. By studying human perceptual and cognitive mechanisms, students will explore interaction strategies and methodologies for designing, implementing, and evaluating interactive systems. Special emphasis will be placed on usability, accessibility, and User Experience (UX), as well as on design strategies that enhance digital communication in complex interactive environments.
Expected learning outcomes
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
- Analyze cognitive and perceptual principles underlying human-computer interaction and their impact on the quality of digital communication.
- Design interfaces and interactive systems by optimizing usability, accessibility, and UX, with particular attention to the effectiveness of communication between the user and the system.
- Apply scientific methods for user experience evaluation, including user testing, heuristic analysis, and usability metrics, also assessing the effectiveness of communication between users and interfaces.
- Critically evaluate design choices in terms of their impact on digital communication and user experience, identifying strengths and weaknesses of different solutions.
- Develop strategies to improve user engagement, clarity of communication, and user satisfaction, ensuring intuitive and natural interaction with digital systems.
The teaching approach integrates theory and practice, combining lectures, case study analysis, and project-based activities to equip students with concrete tools for designing and evaluating advanced digital experiences that ensure effective interaction and clear, efficient communication.
- Analyze cognitive and perceptual principles underlying human-computer interaction and their impact on the quality of digital communication.
- Design interfaces and interactive systems by optimizing usability, accessibility, and UX, with particular attention to the effectiveness of communication between the user and the system.
- Apply scientific methods for user experience evaluation, including user testing, heuristic analysis, and usability metrics, also assessing the effectiveness of communication between users and interfaces.
- Critically evaluate design choices in terms of their impact on digital communication and user experience, identifying strengths and weaknesses of different solutions.
- Develop strategies to improve user engagement, clarity of communication, and user satisfaction, ensuring intuitive and natural interaction with digital systems.
The teaching approach integrates theory and practice, combining lectures, case study analysis, and project-based activities to equip students with concrete tools for designing and evaluating advanced digital experiences that ensure effective interaction and clear, efficient communication.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
- Introduction - Human-Computer Interaction
- Interaction design: Inspiration, ideation and implementation phase
- Inspiration phase: getting to know the user - Perceptual, cognitive and motor system
- Inspiration phase: getting to know the user - Communication in general
- Inspiration phase: getting to know the user - from oral to digital communication
- Inspiration phase: getting to know the user - profiling: definition of personas and information-gathering techniques
- Inspiration phase: getting to know the user - from requirements gathering to data analysis
- Inspiration phase: getting to know the user - The specification of the requirements
- Ideation phase - mental model VS conceptual model and SW life cycles
- Conception phase - Visceral design: Gestalt laws - Affordance - Visible constraints - Mapping - Idioms and stereotypes - Metaphors - Feedback
- Ideation phase - Behavioral design: Cognitive strategies (transfer and selective attention), Motor laws
- Concept phase - Reflective design: learning and problem-solving - Tacit knowledge and implicit information
- Concept phase - Examples of Bad and Good design and prototyping (Wizard of Oz technique) - Interaction styles
- Implementation phase - Information architecture
- Implementation phase - Design pattern
- Introduction to usability engineering
- Usability engineering
- Introduction to systems evaluation
- Analysis, test and usability evaluations
- HTML, CSS and Accessibility Analysis
- Interaction design: Inspiration, ideation and implementation phase
- Inspiration phase: getting to know the user - Perceptual, cognitive and motor system
- Inspiration phase: getting to know the user - Communication in general
- Inspiration phase: getting to know the user - from oral to digital communication
- Inspiration phase: getting to know the user - profiling: definition of personas and information-gathering techniques
- Inspiration phase: getting to know the user - from requirements gathering to data analysis
- Inspiration phase: getting to know the user - The specification of the requirements
- Ideation phase - mental model VS conceptual model and SW life cycles
- Conception phase - Visceral design: Gestalt laws - Affordance - Visible constraints - Mapping - Idioms and stereotypes - Metaphors - Feedback
- Ideation phase - Behavioral design: Cognitive strategies (transfer and selective attention), Motor laws
- Concept phase - Reflective design: learning and problem-solving - Tacit knowledge and implicit information
- Concept phase - Examples of Bad and Good design and prototyping (Wizard of Oz technique) - Interaction styles
- Implementation phase - Information architecture
- Implementation phase - Design pattern
- Introduction to usability engineering
- Usability engineering
- Introduction to systems evaluation
- Analysis, test and usability evaluations
- HTML, CSS and Accessibility Analysis
Prerequisites for admission
none
Teaching methods
Lectures with discussions and presentations of case studies
Teaching Resources
Slides of the lectures in MYARIEL
In the slides are reported books, articles websites useful both for studying and insights
Main texts (with various references to texts, examples and images on the slides):
- Preece, J., Rogers, Y., & Sharp, H. (2015). Interaction design: beyond - Human-Computer Interaction. John Wiley & Sons. http://www.id-book.com/
- de Souza, C.S. and Leitão, C.F. Semiotic Engineering methods for scientific research in HCI. Morgan & Claypool. 2009
- Norman D.A., Emotional Design: Why We Love (or Hate) Everyday Things, Basic Books, 2003
In the slides are reported books, articles websites useful both for studying and insights
Main texts (with various references to texts, examples and images on the slides):
- Preece, J., Rogers, Y., & Sharp, H. (2015). Interaction design: beyond - Human-Computer Interaction. John Wiley & Sons. http://www.id-book.com/
- de Souza, C.S. and Leitão, C.F. Semiotic Engineering methods for scientific research in HCI. Morgan & Claypool. 2009
- Norman D.A., Emotional Design: Why We Love (or Hate) Everyday Things, Basic Books, 2003
Assessment methods and Criteria
Methods of verification are:
1. a written test consisting of
1.1 Set of Multiple-choice questions
1.2 Set of open questions (only if sufficient in point 1 is achieved)
2. an oral test or Project (Optional)
The evaluation criteria of the multiple-choice test concern:
- Knowledge of the content
- Degree of knowledge of the subject
The criteria for evaluating the open questions test concern:
- Adherence of the response to the track
- Ability to make connections
- The relevance of the contents in relation to the question
The evaluation criteria of the oral test/project presentation concern:
- the focus of the issue
- logical rigour and use of technical language
- fairness and clarity of exposure
- The critical awareness, personal interpretation skills, richness and relevance of the oral presentation
The examination procedures include:
1. 15-20 multiple choice questions (right answer: 1 point, wrong: -0.25, pass:> = 11). The quiz affects the final grade for 12/30
2. Set of 7-10 open questions (only if sufficient in point 1 is reached). The questions account for 21/30 on the final grade (also considering the 3 points for honours)
3. Oral exam or presentation of a project (Optional), increase or decrease in the grade of the written test by + or - 3 points
1. a written test consisting of
1.1 Set of Multiple-choice questions
1.2 Set of open questions (only if sufficient in point 1 is achieved)
2. an oral test or Project (Optional)
The evaluation criteria of the multiple-choice test concern:
- Knowledge of the content
- Degree of knowledge of the subject
The criteria for evaluating the open questions test concern:
- Adherence of the response to the track
- Ability to make connections
- The relevance of the contents in relation to the question
The evaluation criteria of the oral test/project presentation concern:
- the focus of the issue
- logical rigour and use of technical language
- fairness and clarity of exposure
- The critical awareness, personal interpretation skills, richness and relevance of the oral presentation
The examination procedures include:
1. 15-20 multiple choice questions (right answer: 1 point, wrong: -0.25, pass:> = 11). The quiz affects the final grade for 12/30
2. Set of 7-10 open questions (only if sufficient in point 1 is reached). The questions account for 21/30 on the final grade (also considering the 3 points for honours)
3. Oral exam or presentation of a project (Optional), increase or decrease in the grade of the written test by + or - 3 points
INF/01 - INFORMATICS - University credits: 6
Lessons: 48 hours
Professor:
Valtolina Stefano
Shifts:
Turno
Professor:
Valtolina StefanoProfessor(s)