This page is dedicated to the university teaching of Human Computer Interaction [06415] at University of Pavia with specialization in Computer Science and Multimedia.
Course Description
Human-computer interaction is a discipline concerned with the design, evaluation, and implementation of interactive computing systems for human use, as well as the study of significant phenomena surrounding them. This course includes both theoretical material and practical approaches to designing user interfaces. In the lectures, the two will be combined.
This course equips students with the necessary skills to design and evaluate usable interfaces. It is for people who want to design technology based on understanding users' needs and to ensure that the products they and others design meet those needs.
Lessons, Hours, and Locations
Course lessons are held at the University of Pavia, via Ferrata 1, accordingly to the following schedule:
- Monday 4pm - 6pm (E4)
- Friday 2pm - 5pm (Aula 8)
- Lessons are suspended on
- 18/04/2025
- 25/04/2025
- 02/04/2025
- 06/06/2025
Visit at CtrlAltMuseum
A special off-site lesson is scheduled for Friday, May 23rd.
Visit starts at 2:15 PM at CtrlAltMuseum in Pavia and will run until 6:00 PM (https://maps.app.goo.gl/tuSrT7WpF3YX221h7).
Admission and the guided tour are complimentary for HCI students.
Prerequisites
There are no formal prerequisites for this course.
However, a basic understanding of web development and communication channels may help one understand specific topics and their practical implications more deeply. This background knowledge, while helpful, is not mandatory for successful participation.
Course Topics
- Introduction to HCI
- The human: Input-output channels, human memory, thinking, reasoning, and problem solving
- Accessibility techniques
- The interaction: Models of interaction, ergonomics, interaction styles, elements of the WIMP interface, interactivity
- Paradigms for interaction
- Interaction design basics: The process of design, user focus, navigation design, screen design, and layout
- Usability engineering
- Design rules: Usability principles, guidelines, standards, and design patterns.
- Evaluation techniques, through expert analysis and through user participation
Participation and Final Examination Information
Attendance at lessons is not mandatory. However, various contextual examples and additional references will be shared during the lectures to facilitate a deeper understanding of the core topics in Human-Computer Interaction.
The final examination will consist of an oral discussion covering the topics presented throughout the course.
Exam sessions are scheduled for the following dates:
- 20/06/2025 at 2:00pm in room E3
- 14/07/2025 at 2:00pm in Aula 5
- 12/09/2025 at 2:00pm in Aula 5
- 26/09/2025 at 2:00pm in Aula 5
Additional dates could be defined upon request by two or more students, sending an email to luca.bianchi@unipv.it
Students can increase their final mark by up to three points by completing an optional activity, to be agreed upon with the professor.
Examples of such activities include conducting a usability evaluation of an interface or preparing a lesson with accompanying slides on a topic mutually agreed upon with the professor..
Office Hours
Students can book an appointment with Professor Luca Bianchi by sending an email to luca.bianchi@unipv.it
Course Material
Course Textbook (official)
- The reference textbook for the course is Human-Computer Interaction, 3rd edition, by Dix, Finlay, Abowd, and Beale, Prentice Hall, 2003
- The book features a companion website (https://hcibook.com/) that offers downloadable slides.
Lesson Notes (unofficial)
This section contains documents related to topics discussed during class lessons. Comprehensive lesson notes summarise the lectures to support preparation for the final examination and facilitate acquiring a basic understanding of the course topics.
Each lesson group has a book chapter (HCI XX) with full references, details, and a comprehensive discussion. A shortened version, named "notebook" (files starting with N-HCI XX), outlines topics and relevant notes for each extensive chapter.
Students are kindly requested not to share the files directly, as they are regularly updated. Instead, please share the link to the course website, ensuring that the most up-to-date version of the notes is always accessed.
- Lessons from 31/03/2025 to 28/04/2025:
The Human: Input-output channels, human memory, thinking, reasoning, and problem solving
- Lessons from 05/05/2025 to 09/05/2025:
Assistive Technologies, Barriers and Solutions, Accessibility Law and Standards
- Lessons from 12/05/2025 to 12/05/2025:
Models, Ergonomics, and Interaction Styles
- Lessons from 16/05/2025 to 30/05/2025:
Design process, Navigation design, Layout Design, HCI in the software process, Design Rules, Standards, Golden Rules
- Lessons from 09/06/2025 to 13/06/2025:
Interface Evaluation intro, experts, heuristics, Eval with users, experimental, observational
Additional Material
This section provides supplementary materials for students who wish to explore Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) in greater depth.
Important: These resources are not required for the final exam but are highly recommended for those passionate about designing better human-centered technologies.
- The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman
- A foundational book for understanding user-centered design principles.
- About Face: The Essentials of Interaction Design by Alan Cooper
- Practical and modern approaches to designing for digital products.
- Don’t Make Me Think by Steve Krug
- A concise and readable guide to usability and UX design.
- Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
- A deep exploration of human cognition, decision-making, and biases is crucial for understanding how users process information.
Updated on 2025-06-09