Syllabus for Human-Computer Interaction: Embodied Interaction

Learning outcomes

Regarding knowledge and understanding, on completion of the course, the student is expected to be able to:

• give a varied and in-depth account of theoretical perspectives on embodied interaction, their foundation in the theory of science, and their methodological approach,
• describe theories of movement and body perception and explain basic concepts in the field,
• give an account of basic architectural concepts.

Regarding competence and skills, on completion of the course, the student is expected to be able to:

• apply qualitative methods to observe and analyse social and spatial use situations,
• use theories and concepts that are introduced in the course to critically discuss and explain observations,
• apply the theoretical perspective of the course when designing interactive artifacts and environments,
• use theories and concepts that are introduced in the course to critically motivate design choices.

Regarding judgement and approach, on completion of the course, the student is expected to be able to:

• give and take design criticism,
• based on theories of embodied interaction, critically reflect on design solutions.

Content

The course focuses on design theories and processes for interaction design, when the technology goes from being screen-based to being embedded in artifacts, clothes and our environment. Based on theories of 'embodied interaction', the students learn to analyse existing interaction solutions as well as to create their own. The course also gives an introduction to theories of movement, body perception, and architecture, and applies these in interaction design. The course prepares the students to work with new technical materials in interaction design.

The theoretical content of the course is based on Merleau-Ponty's ideas about "the phenomenology of perception" and Dourish's definition of embodied interaction as a research field and design practice. From this basis, the course moves on with two focus areas: a physically oriented one with the aim of developing a design understanding for technology we carry on our bodies, and a spatially oriented one with the aim of developing a design understanding for interactive architecture. The course includes one or more design projects aimed at developing the students' ability to apply knowledge from the course, work in groups and to give and take design criticism.

Instruction

Lectures, seminars, workshops, supervision, project work in groups, peer review.

Assessment

Laboratory sessions, seminars, written assignments.

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the University's disability coordinator or a decision by the department's working group for study matters.