Human Interface Design
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You don't need to go far to find a frustrated computer user. Often it will be because they find the interface difficult to use. Designing good interfaces has become an important industry, and successful products often depend on having excellent interfaces.

This activity explores just how hard it is to get things right.

Poor door design
 

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Curriculum Links

The Human Interface Design activities fit well in any technology or design curriculum. They explore how people interact with technology, and what it means for something to be "easy to use". They are suitable for junior elementary students, but are led by discussion, so they can be readily adapted to older students to high school level and beyond.

New Zealand Curriculum Achievement Objectives

  • Technology Level 1: Planning for practice
    • Outline a general plan to support the development of an outcome, identifying appropriate steps and resources.
  • Technology Level 1: Brief development
    • Describe the outcome they are developing and identify the attributes it should have, taking account of the need or opportunity and the resources available.
  • Technology Level 1: Outcome development and evaluation
    • Investigate a context to communicate potential outcomes. Evaluate these against attributes; select and develop an outcome in keeping with the identified attributes.
  • Technology Level 1: Technological modelling
    • Understand that functional models are used to represent reality and test design concepts and that prototypes are used to test technological outcomes.
  • Technology Level 1: Technological products
    • Understand that technological products are made from materials that have performance properties.
  • Technology Level 1: Characteristics of technology
    • Understand that technology is purposeful intervention through design.
  • Technology Level 1: Characteristics of technological outcomes
    • Understand that technological outcomes are products or systems developed by people and have a physical nature and a functional nature.
  • English Level 1: Speaking, writing and presenting
    • Recognise how to shape texts for a purpose and an audience.

ACM K12 Model Curriculum

  • Level I (Grades 3-5) Topic 2: Discuss common uses of technology in daily life and the advantages and disadvantages those uses provide.

Great Principles of Computer Science