By the end of this course students will:

- understand the basic principles (theories, concepts and methods) of Human Computer Interaction (HCI) and user-experience design and be able to apply the basic principles in practical work

- understand the specific HCI-related issues in designing ICT for healthcare, taking into account a range of healthcare settings and applications

- be able to design health applications from an HCI perspective

- be able to critically reflect and evaluate systems from an HCI perspective

NOTE: the actual format of this course will depend on the number of students and the mix of medical informatics or media informatics backgrounds. To be agreed start of classes.

This course will take a very broad interpretation of HCI and consider the principles of designing for 'human' use at different levels of concern: designing the interface and the interaction with the system; designing the fit of the system into broader work processes; and into broader spatial, social, organisational contexts. We will consider a range of healthcare IT from electronic patient records and hospital information systems, to systems supporting monitoring and care at home (AAL) and self-care/health promotion. This will include a range of desktop, mobile and sensor-based applications.

The course includes:

- Introduction into HumanComputer Interaction - Including user experience design, user-centred design and usability

- Designing interfaces and interactions in healthcare - Including principles of interaction design

- Introduction to CSCW as a way to understand the broader collaborative context of healthcare

- Designing systems to fit in with healthcare workpractices

- Methods to engage with users and stakeholders in the design process

- Evaluation of healthcare systems in use

- Interface Design and Usability Engineering, practical methods and case studies in Health

The grading is based on individual and group exercises, as well as class participation.

Didactic approach: We will take a highly interactive approach to facilitate learning experiences. Lecture content will be interwoven with small group exercises, critical reading of literature, class discussions, and design tasks. There is also group project work.

ECTS Breakdown (cost estimate - we will discuss and agree this at the start of the semester):

In-class sessions - 24 hours  (Note: while we have the room booked 9-12, some sessions will finish earlier)  

Readings prep and Block 0 exercises - 10 hours  

Group work – 84 hrs/person      

• Block 1 EMR group project work – 28 hrs      
• Block 2 AAL (group or ind TBD) project work – 28 hrs      
• Block 3 Self care group project work – 28 hrs  

Individual assessment work (essay & reflective learning report) – 32 hours

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Total: 150 hours (6 ECTS)

Block 0:  Exercise based on readings  - 10% [due 20 March]

Block 1: EHR project (Group) – 20% [due 22 April]

Block 2: AAL design ideas (Group) - 20% [due 18 May]

Block 3: UCD – self care project  (Group) – 20% [due 22 June]

Individual Essay – 25% (critical literature review on topic of your choice) [due 30 June]

Reflective learning report - 5%  [due 30 June]