Units
Product Usability
Unit code: DNB202
Contact hours: 3 per week
Credit points: 12
Information about fees and unit costs
The professional designer designs principally for others and not primarily by personal preference. Therefore an understanding of the breadth of physical and cognitive needs and capabilities of people is vital to the development of useable products. This unit provides the basis for a user-centred design philosophy built upon an understanding of people and their capabilities and knowledge and experience to integrate advanced human factors and usability concepts into the industrial design process. The content covered in this unit includes: anthropometrics; principles of physical and cognitive ergonomic requirements of special needs groups; human error; usability principles; usability evaluation methods and user testing techniques.
Availability
| Semester | Available |
|---|---|
| 2013 Semester 2 | Yes |
Sample subject outline - Semester 2 2012
Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.
Rationale
Understanding the physical, cognitive and emotional needs and capabilities of people is vital to the design and development of usable artifacts. The relationship between people and artifacts is a complex and dynamic one, and knowledge of how to integrate advanced human factors and usability concepts into the industrial design process is required.
This unit provides this knowledge as the basis for a user-centred design philosophy. It takes place in the second semester of the course so it can be integrated with the design programme to lay the foundation for more in-depth studies in this area later.
Aims
This unit will provide you with ergonomics/human factors knowledge and skills, focussed on industrial design, and with an emphasis on the human-artefact interface, usability, and user-testing techniques.
You will learn how to determine the physical, cognitive and emotional needs for a defined user group; to develop ergonomically appropriate design concepts; and to evaluate the effectiveness of existing and prototypical products. Drawing on research and testing techniques, sometimes transferred from other fields such as information technology or cognitive psychology among others, you will learn to go beyond subjective evaluations of your design concepts in order to gain a better understanding of the effectiveness of your own ideas.
Objectives
On completion of this unit you should be able to:
- understand differing physical, cognitive and emotional needs and capabilities of people and how this relates to industrial design
- understand different aspects of ergonomics/human factors with an emphasis on their application to the user-product interaction
- apply ergonomic principles and data in your design projects
- choose appropriate usability testing methods for any design project from a wide range of evaluation techniques
- succinctly communicate technical ergonomic data
Content
The major topics covered in this unit include:
Approaches to Teaching and Learning
The unit will consist of lectures, studio projects and discussions. Practical exercises within studio will focus on a problem-based approach and you will work individually or within groups.
Teaching Mode:
Hours per week: 4
Lecture: 1
Tutorial: 3
Learning Approaches:
Learning approaches will cover the following:
- Problem based
- Self-directed learning
- Individual learning
- Team-based learning
- Experiential learning
- Reflective
- Presentation
Assessment
Two design projects will serve as vehicles to explore ergonomics and usability issues and techniques. These will incorporate a number of practical exercises exploring techniques and concepts. Assessment is both summative and formative. An exam at the conclusion of the semester will be based on lecture and designated reading content.Formative assessment and feedback will be provided weekly on individual and/or group consultation during studio time. Summative assessment will occur as a result of the three assessment items in this semester. Feedback for group and individual progress will be provided during project presentation and in written form (criterion reference assessment sheets) after moderation of marks.
Assessment name:
Problem Solving Task
Description:
Project 1
Relates to objectives:
1, 3, 5
Weight:
30%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Mid Semester
Assessment name:
Design
Description:
Project 2
Relates to objectives:
1-5
Weight:
40%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
End of Semester
Assessment name:
Examination (Theory)
Description:
Multiple choice exam
Relates to objectives:
1, 2, 4, 5
Weight:
30%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
End of Semester
Academic Honesty
QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.
A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.
Resource materials
Where possible, electronic copies of notes will be provided on the unit Blackboard site. The following resource materials are recommended. Designated readings will be set for specific lectures, the contents of which will be examined.
Prescribed Texts:
Norman, D. A. (1988), The Design of Everyday Things, Doubleday, New York.
Bridger, R. S. (2009), Introduction to Ergonomics (Third Edition), CRC Press, Taylor and Francis, Florida
Additional Costs
Consumable costs typical of the preparation and presentation of design project work are to be expected.
Risk assessment statement
You will undertake lectures and tutorials in studios, and lecture rooms and there are no extraordinary workplace and safety issues associated with this. However workshop usage is required and you will need to attend J-Block workshop safety induction sessions that introduce you to safety regulations. Students who do not act in accordance with the requirements of the Workplace and Health and Safety Act will be asked to leave workshop
Health & Safety Inductions
Students are required to complete, if haven't already previously completed, the following Inductions / Certificates
1. General Safety Induction
2. J-Block Workshop Induction
Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.
Last modified: 29-May-2012
