MAUU5010 Programming and API for Interaction Course description

The course focuses on the technical aspects of the implementation of user interfaces.

Admission requirements.

A student who has completed this course should have the following learning outcomes, defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

On successful completion of this course the student

• has specialized knowledge of frameworks and APIs for developing user interfaces
• has specialized knowledge of real-time programming
• has advanced knowledge of copyright, ownership and intellectual property with reuse of code

Skills

On successful completion of this course the student

• will be acquainted with new frameworks, platforms and APIs for developing user interfaces
• can use current development environments
• can analyse the suitability of design patterns for problem-solving in universal design and user interfaces
• can use agile development methods

General competence

On successful completion of this course the student

• can analyse development processes and make decisions that maximize reuse and minimize costs
• can apply knowledge of APIs, frameworks and developing skills in new areas and carry out advanced assignments and projects

This course is organized as a series of lectures which cover the central parts of the theory.

Guest lectures can be organised on chosen topics. Students work in groups on projects under supervision.

Completion of all courses from the first three semesters of the master's programme.

No requirements over and above the admission requirements.

After completing the course, the student is expected to have achieved the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student is capable of:

• different prototyping techniques
• user-centered design
• Research through Design
• sketching / drawing techniques, simple graphic design, shape and color use
• general design principles for good user experiences. Emotional design
• theories of communication, basic psychology, observation
• tools for making interactive prototypes (digital tools, Arduino, sensor technology)

Skills

The student is capable of:

• be able to work out ideas in teams and make decisions
• be able to produce interactive prototypes using simple means (paper) and more advanced digital tools
• be able to use knowledge of form, color and graphic design in designing products
• be able to describe goals for usability and user experience
• be able to perform user tests and use the results in further development of a product
• be able to use known evaluation methods (heuristic evaluation, cognitive walk-through)

General competence:

The student is capable of:

• working on the development of concepts for given issues
• testing ideas on users through early prototyping
• communicating ideas to other designers, developers, management, users and clients

Lectures and supervised work on practical assignments, both lectures and labs presuppose attendance on campus. Case studies may be included as part of the teaching. The students work in groups. Group size is usually 3 to 5 students (Determined by the course coordinator).

In addition to lectures and reading, students are expected to learn necessary techniques through short online courses or courses offered by Makerspace. These may be required to complete the physical prototype for the home-exam.

Individual portfolio examination, followed by an oral examination. The master project portfolio consists of

• a written assignment
• design process documentation
• a product
• a reflection note