Doctor of Philosophy in Informatics - Human Computer Interaction
Graduates of the Human-Computer Interaction track will gain the additional and specific expertise described below:
- Identify and explain HCI domain knowledge in the areas of both basic and applied research with considerable depth, including:
- HCI theory and usability terms, principles and practices
- Problem space definition and conceptual models
- Social mechanisms used in communication,
- User-centered approaches to interaction design
- User profiling and user needs and requirements
- Interface design principles and processes, as well as related areas of visual design and aesthetics
- Cognitive and information processing
- Product assessments related to a market analysis, as well as processes and life-cycles of interaction design
- Product evaluation and testing methods, both qualitative and quantitative
- Identify and apply HCI principles and practices during product design and evaluation (development and usability testing) of interactive products, including:
- Producing interface designs and prototypes based on user and needs assessments
- Validate design decisions through a user-centered approach to interaction design and the final analysis, evaluation and usability testing methods of interactive products
- Identify and explain the broader HCI connections and associations among technology, theory, social analysis and application domains to arrive at a set of questions in preparation for final research and dissertation, as well as the broader significance of work within the context of past and current HCI research