LIBR 251
Interface Design for Information Services
Spring 2004

Instructor: Dr. Ziming Liu
zliu@slis.sjsu.edu
Voice: 408-924-2500

GREENSHEET

Course Description:

Surveys the theory and practice of designing user-centered interfaces in information systems and services. Include theories of user information seeking, cognition, human-computer interaction, the design process, and application in information systems and the Internet. Emphasis on the design and evaluation of interfaces. Prerequisites: LIBR 202 and rudimentary HTML.

Course Objectives:

This course is intended to equip students with the theory, tools, and methodologies for developing effective user-centered interfaces in information systems and services. Through lectures and discussions, the students will learn of the different mechanisms for interactivity, and how to choose appropriate interaction methods for particular circumstances. It will also cover several emerging issues, such as user behaviors with digital media and their relevance with electronic publishing and digital library.

This course supports the following SLIS objectives:

• Teaching the major theories, important principles, and current practice in the areas of: information transfer... and....the application of diverse technologies to information management
• Requiring students to evaluate and utilize relevant research studies from a variety of disciplines in their coursework

Recommended Text:

Shneiderman, Ben. (1998). Designing the user interface (3rd edition). Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.

Course Requirements:

• Class participation and discussion (15%)
• Reading assignments (20%)
• Presentation (15%)
• Term project (50%)