Human-Computer Interaction I: Fundamentals & Design Principles from edX

This course takes you through the first eight lessons of CS6750: Human-Computer Interaction as taught in the Georgia Tech Online Master of Science in Computer Science program.

In this course, you’ll take the first steps toward being a solid HCI practitioner and researcher. You’ll learn the fundamentals of how HCI relates to fields like user experience design, user interface design, human factors engineering, and psychology. You’ll also learn how human-computer interaction has influence across application domains like healthcare and education; technology development like virtual and augmented reality; and broader ideas like context-sensitive computing and information visualization.

You’ll then dive into the fundamentals of human-computer interaction. You’ll learn three views of the user’s role in interface design: the behaviorist ‘processor’ view, the cognitivist ‘predictor’ view, and the situationist ‘participant’ view. You’ll discover how these different views of the user’s role affect the scope we use to evaluate interaction. These perspectives will be crucial as you move forward in designing interfaces to ensure you’re considering what goes on inside the user’s head, as well as in the environment around them.

You’ll then learn the gulfs of execution and evaluation, which determine how easily the user can accomplish their goals in a system and how well they can understand the results of their actions. All of user interface design can be seen as taking steps to bridge these gulfs. You’ll also investigate the notion of direct manipulation, which shortens the distance between the user and the objects they are manipulating in the interface. With these tools, you’ll be well-equipped to start designing effective interfaces.

You’ll then take a deeper dive into what humans are even capable of accomplishing. You’ll learn the limitations of human sensing and memory and how we must be aware of the cognitive load we introduce on the user while using our interfaces. Cognitive load can have an enormous impact on a user’s satisfaction with an interface, and must be kept in mind as you begin your career as a designer.

You’ll finally conclude with an overview of the major design principles in human-computer interaction. Curated from the work of Don Norman, Jakob Nielsen, Ronald Mace, Larry Constantine, and Lucy Lockwood, these design principles cover revolutionary ideas in the design of interfaces: discoverability, affordances, perceptibility, constraints, error tolerance, and more. These principles are crucial whether you move forward as a designer, an evaluator, a front-end engineer, or any other role in technology design.

By the end of the course, you’ll have an understanding of where HCI sits in the broader field, a grasp of the goals of HCI, and a foundation in core principles that inform interface design.

What's inside

Learning objectives

The overall goals of human-computer interaction.
The relationship between hci, user experience design, human factors engineering, and psychology.
The relevance of hci to domains like healthcare, education, and cybersecurity.
The trends in hci technology including virtual reality, augmented reality, and robotics.
The emerging ideas in hci research, such as context-sensitive computing, gesture-based interaction, and social computing.
The three main schools of thought in hci: the processor, predictor, and participant views.

The feedback cycle in user interaction, including gulfs of execution and evaluation.
The notion of directness in interaction, and the role of direct manipulation.
The strengths and limitations of the human user, including sensation and memory.
The role of design principles and heuristics in user interface design.
The most important principles for design, including discoverability, affordances, perceptibility, and error tolerance.

The overall goals of human-computer interaction.
The relationship between hci, user experience design, human factors engineering, and psychology.
The relevance of hci to domains like healthcare, education, and cybersecurity.
The trends in hci technology including virtual reality, augmented reality, and robotics.
The emerging ideas in hci research, such as context-sensitive computing, gesture-based interaction, and social computing.
The three main schools of thought in hci: the processor, predictor, and participant views.
The feedback cycle in user interaction, including gulfs of execution and evaluation.
The notion of directness in interaction, and the role of direct manipulation.
The strengths and limitations of the human user, including sensation and memory.
The role of design principles and heuristics in user interface design.
The most important principles for design, including discoverability, affordances, perceptibility, and error tolerance.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Meant for learners seeking an introduction to human-computer interaction

Strengthens foundational knowledge for students pursuing a Computer Science degree

Provides a deep understanding of human-computer interaction principles

Prepares learners to bridge the gulfs of execution and evaluation in HCI

Applicable for diverse industries like healthcare, education, and cybersecurity

Reviews summary

Foundational hci principles & design basics

According to learners, this course provides a solid theoretical foundation in Human-Computer Interaction, covering core principles and how they relate to fields like UX design. Many students found the lectures clear and well-structured, making complex ideas accessible. Reviewers particularly appreciated the coverage of Norman and Nielsen's heuristics. While strong on theory, some learners noted that the course could benefit from more hands-on application or practical examples. It is often described as a good starting point for those new to HCI, but perhaps less suited for experienced practitioners seeking advanced skills.

Designed as a module within a Master's degree.

"Recognizing this is part of the OMSCS program helps set expectations about the academic style."

"This course feels like a segment of a larger, more in-depth curriculum."

"Knowing it's from a Master's program explains the theoretical depth."

"It's clear this is built as foundational knowledge for subsequent studies."

Course is strong on theory but lighter on practical application.

"While the theory is solid, I was hoping for more practical exercises or tools."

"This course is heavily theoretical, which is great for fundamentals, but doesn't teach you *how* to design interfaces directly."

"It gives you the 'why' behind design but less of the 'how' using actual tools."

"I wish there were more hands-on examples showing the principles in action on real interfaces."

An excellent starting point for those new to HCI.

"As someone completely new to HCI, this course was perfect for introducing me to the field."

"It's a great introductory course if you want to understand what HCI is all about."

"I recommend this for anyone looking to get into UX or design without prior knowledge."

"I found it accessible and not too overwhelming as a first step into the subject."

Lecture material is generally easy to follow and understand.

"The lectures were very clear and presented the information in a logical way."

"I found the explanations of complex topics easy to grasp thanks to the instructor."

"The video content was engaging and broke down the material effectively."

"The teaching style made the fundamentals of HCI understandable for a beginner."

Course excels at covering fundamental HCI concepts.

"This course laid a really strong theoretical foundation for me in HCI."

"The coverage of core principles like affordances and discoverability was excellent."

"It provides a solid overview of key concepts and the history of HCI."

"I learned fundamental concepts that underpin good design, which I can now apply."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Human-Computer Interaction I: Fundamentals & Design Principles with these activities:

Review Cognitive Psychology Concepts

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Strengthen your understanding of cognitive psychology principles, which are fundamental to understanding user behavior and designing effective interfaces.

Browse courses on Cognitive Psychology

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Review key concepts in cognitive psychology, such as perception, attention, memory, and problem-solving.
Relate cognitive psychology concepts to HCI design principles and best practices.

Practice Human-Computer Interaction Concepts

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Solidify your foundational knowledge of HCI by practicing key concepts and applying them to real-world examples.

Browse courses on Human-Computer Interaction

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Review the three views of the user's role in interface design.
Identify and analyze the gulfs of execution and evaluation in a given user interface.
Apply the principles of direct manipulation to improve the usability of a website or app.

Explore Emerging HCI Technologies

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Stay up-to-date with the latest HCI technologies and their implications for user experience by following reputable tutorials and resources.

Browse courses on virtual reality

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Identify a specific emerging HCI technology.
Find and follow tutorials or online courses that provide hands-on experience with the technology.
Build a prototype or experiment to demonstrate your understanding of the technology.

Two other activities

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Solve HCI Design Challenges

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Sharpen your HCI design skills by tackling real-world challenges and evaluating your solutions against industry best practices.

Browse courses on Usability Testing

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Identify a usability issue in a website or app.
Propose a solution to address the issue, based on HCI design principles.
Evaluate your solution against established usability metrics.
Optional: Present your solution to peers or instructors for feedback.

Develop a HCI Research Proposal

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Deepen your understanding of HCI research methods and demonstrate your ability to design and conduct a research study.

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Identify a research topic in HCI that you are passionate about.
Review relevant literature and develop a research question.
Design a research study, including the methodology, participants, and data collection methods.
Write a research proposal that outlines your study plan.

Career center

Learners who complete Human-Computer Interaction I: Fundamentals & Design Principles will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

User Researcher

User Researchers conduct research on users to understand their needs, behaviors, and motivations. Human-Computer Interaction I: Fundamentals & Design Principles can provide a foundation in the field of HCI and teach the methods and techniques used in user research.

See salaries and explore the career path for User Researcher

Information Architect

Information Architects design and organize websites and other digital products to make them easy to find and use. Human-Computer Interaction I: Fundamentals & Design Principles provides a foundation in the field of HCI and teaches design principles and best practices that can be applied to information architecture.

See salaries and explore the career path for Information Architect

Interaction Designer

Interaction Designers create interactive experiences for websites and applications, focusing on the user's experience and how they interact with the product. Human-Computer Interaction I: Fundamentals & Design Principles can provide a foundation in the field of HCI and teach the principles of interaction design.

See salaries and explore the career path for Interaction Designer

Web Developer

Web Developers design and develop websites. Human-Computer Interaction I: Fundamentals & Design Principles provides a foundation in the field of HCI and teaches design principles and best practices that can be applied to web development.

See salaries and explore the career path for Web Developer

Human Factors Engineer

Human Factors Engineers research, design, and evaluate products and systems for human use, considering human capabilities and limitations. This course could prove useful for someone who wants to become a Human Factors Engineer, as it introduces the field of HCI and covers topics such as cognitive load, user errors, and design principles.

See salaries and explore the career path for Human Factors Engineer

Product Manager

Product Managers are responsible for the planning, development, and launch of new products. Human-Computer Interaction I: Fundamentals & Design Principles can provide a foundation in the field of HCI and teach the principles of user experience design, which is essential for Product Managers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager

Game Designer

Game Designers create the overall concept and design of video games. Human-Computer Interaction I: Fundamentals & Design Principles provides a foundation in the field of HCI and teaches design principles that can be applied to game design.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Designer

User Experience Designer

User Experience Designers plan and create experiences and interfaces for company websites and applications, software programs, and more. Human-Computer Interaction I: Fundamentals & Design Principles provides a solid understanding of the field of HCI, and how it relates to UX design. This could prove useful to someone who wants to go into UX design.

See salaries and explore the career path for User Experience Designer

Frontend Developer

Frontend Developers design and build the user interface for websites and applications. Human-Computer Interaction I: Fundamentals & Design Principles provides a foundation in the field of HCI and teaches design principles and best practices that can be applied to frontend development.

See salaries and explore the career path for Frontend Developer

Technical Writer

Technical Writers create documentation and other materials to explain complex technical information. Human-Computer Interaction I: Fundamentals & Design Principles may be useful for someone who wants to become a Technical Writer, as it introduces the field of HCI and covers topics such as user experience design and user research.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Writer

Instructional Designer

Instructional Designers develop and deliver learning experiences for students. Human-Computer Interaction I: Fundamentals & Design Principles may be useful for someone who wants to become an Instructional Designer, as it introduces the field of HCI and covers topics such as user experience design and user research.

See salaries and explore the career path for Instructional Designer

Sales Manager

Sales Managers lead and manage sales teams to achieve sales goals. Human-Computer Interaction I: Fundamentals & Design Principles may be useful for someone who wants to become a Sales Manager, as it introduces the field of HCI and covers topics such as user experience design and user research.

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Software Engineer

Software Engineers design, develop, and maintain software applications. Human-Computer Interaction I: Fundamentals & Design Principles may be useful for someone who wants to become a Software Engineer, as it introduces the field of HCI and covers topics such as user experience design and user research.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

Marketing Manager

Marketing Managers plan and execute marketing campaigns to promote products and services. Human-Computer Interaction I: Fundamentals & Design Principles may be useful for someone who wants to become a Marketing Manager, as it introduces the field of HCI and covers topics such as user experience design and user research.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Manager

Data Scientist

Data Scientists use data to solve problems and make informed decisions. Human-Computer Interaction I: Fundamentals & Design Principles may be useful for someone who wants to become a Data Scientist, as it introduces the field of HCI and covers topics such as human cognition, perception, and decision-making.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist