88450 Interactive Product Design: Theory and Practice

Description

Interaction design is about the design of interfaces and facilitating interaction, and supporting behaviours between people and their technological environments and products. In this subject, theoretical knowledge is presented and explored in practical exercises, and applied in hands-on assignments.

Interactive technologies are not just desktop computers but also environments and products which contain embedded computers. These embedded computers can be tiny circuits containing programmable elements (microcontrollers), networked so that they can communicate with each other, and interact with people through interfaces, possessing a potential for behaviours. Interaction design is an interdisciplinary field that draws on knowledge, and theoretical concepts and approaches, from a variety of fields such as sociology, psychology, ergonomics, communication theory, electrical and computer engineering, and programming. From these supporting fields, specific knowledge and insights in interaction design are further developed.

Theory is presented and discussed in weekly lectures, and then practised and further explored in tutorials. A program of technical skills development is presented, enabling participants to work in a hands-on practical setting to learn about electronics, analogue and digital hardware, sensors, actuators and interfaces, and programming. The combination leads to a firm understanding of the basics of interactive product design.

Typical availability

Spring session, City campus