Copyright © Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Vanderbilt University
All Rights Reserved
This course will look at topics that go beyond standard human-computer interface design when developing user interfaces for complex man-machine systems. Examples of complex man-machine systems include: robotics, air traffic control, chemical processing and nuclear power plants, as well as aircraft cockpit design. This course will specifically look at topics that affect the user interface design in these systems such as: facilitating situation awareness, human decision making, vigilance, appropriate workload management, as well as ecological user interfaces. Students will be required to complete a project that incorporates the development of a user interface and a user evaluation.
Supplemental Textbook
Readings and Papers as listed on the schedule web page.
Dr. Julie A. Adams
Jacobs Hall, room 359
julie.a.adams@vanderbilt.edu
http://www.vuse/vanderbilt.edu/~adamsja
Office Hours Monday 5:00 - 6:00 and Wednesday 4:00 - 5:00, and by appointment.
| Component | Weight |
| Class Participation | 10% |
| Paper Write-ups | 15% |
| Paper Presentations | 15% |
| Project proposals, poster and updates | 10% |
| Project prototype | 20% |
| Project user study | 15% |
| Project write-up and presentation | 15% |
The primary component of the final grade will be the term project. The project will require you to implement a portion of a complex man-machine system as a prototype. Your implementation must permit the measurement of at least one critical issue such as operator workload or situation awareness. You will also be required to conduct a small user study to collect measurements based upon your prototype. Throughout the semester project updates will be required. A poster session will be required as well as a project write-up and presentation. Please see the schedule for exact due dates. You can assume that you will be working on your project throughout the semester. Failure to present your portion of the project will reduce your final grade by one letter grade.
You are permitted to work on the project in pairs (this is actually suggested). Your project requires Dr. Adams' approval and the project proposal will determine final project goals.
Each registered student will complete a certain number of paper presentations based upon the number of students in the class. A list of papers is provided on the schedule page and students may choose which papers they wish to present. The student responsible for the paper is expected to have a very good understanding of the paper. The reviewer's understanding of the paper content must be sufficient to provide an 50 minute presentation (on the days when there is a single paper) and a 25 minute presentation (on the days when there are two papers) covering the primary points in the paper. The presentation will be followed by at least a 10 minute discussion. All presentations should be conference style presentations, meaning that a formal presentation is required with slides, and associated backup materials. If you wish to use my laptop for your presentations, your presentation must arrive in my mailbox by noon the day of the presentation. You are required to mail a PDF version of your presentation to Dr. Adams by 5:00 PM the day before your presentation. All presentations will be posted to the course web site. Failure to present an assigned paper will reduce your final semester grade by one letter grade, failure to be on time to present an assigned paper will reduce your final semester grade by half a letter grade.
There will be 3 students per paper assigned to do write-ups for days in which there is only one paper and 2 students per paper assigned to do write-ups on days in which there are two presentations. Each registered student will complete a total of 11 paper write-ups. A paper write-up must include the readers opinion on the paper, as well as at least five points/questions for discussion. The paper write-ups are due at the beginning of each class. Failure to complete two to three assigned paper write-ups will reduce your final semester grade by one letter grade. Failure to complete four or more assigned paper write-ups will reduce your final semester grade by two letter grades.
Each student will be graded on their class participation. This grade will be based upon: attending class, tardiness, and participation in the paper discussions. All class members are expected to read all papers prior to arriving at class. Each student should be prepared to discuss the points presented by others. Also, any student may ask a question even if they are not designated as a person to write-up such points.
The numerical translation to letter grades will be as follows:
| >=98 | A+ |
| 93 <= x >= 97 | A |
| 90 <= x >= 92 | A- |
| 88 <= x >= 89 | B+ |
| 83 <= x >= 87 | B |
| 80 <= x >= 82 | B- |
| 78 <= x >= 79 | C+ |
| 73 <= x >= 77 | C |
| 70 <= x >= 72 | C- |
| 68 <= x >= 69 | D+ |
| 63 <= x >= 67 | D |
| 60 <= x >= 62 | D- |
| <60 | F |
It is a shame that this must be stated at all, but there are always a few students who do not abide by the rules of proper academic conduct. For the record:
Those who behave in a dishonest or unethical manner are subject to disciplinary action. In particular, dishonest or unethical behavior in the execution of assigned work will be treated as follows:
If you have question regarding Vanderbilt's Honor Code please see the Honor Council web page.
It cannot be stress strongly enough that you are expected to have read assigned readings before class, as some of the material will not be covered in class unless questions arise. You are responsible for everything in the assigned readings whether covered in class or not, as well as lecture material whether covered in the readings or not. Pertinent questions are always welcome.
This course has been designed so that you can complete all the work in one semester. Thus incomplete grades will be given only in the most exceptional circumstances, and then only by prior arrangement with your lecture instructor. Your lecture instructor has the final say in this matter.