The best use of technology is for serving people and improving their living conditions. Especially in HCI the focus should always be on the ‘H’, while the ‘C’ & the ‘I’ should merely be supportive. CS 4784 Human-Computer Interaction Capstone will explore novel ways to address pressing problems in today’s overwhelmingly technological society. This is a project-based capstone course giving students a chance to apply their HCI concepts and theory knowledge to real-world applications with a strong social impact. Students will gain practical experience working (in teams of 3-4) through a design-prototype-evaluate cycle for their chosen/assigned client. Emphasis will be given to Design Thinking (DT) and User Experience (UX) methodologies for creating innovation in interactive products and services.

The class will meet Fridays, from 12:30 to 3:15 p.m. Early in the semester a list of potential project ideas will be discussed, and students will be guided to a process of problem identification. Some specific projects and clients might also be circulated. The course will begin with a short review of HCI/UX and DT fundamentals and some team activities, but the majority of the work will be done outside of class and with your clients/partners. In-class time will be invested in activities on creative thinking, design, and prototyping, as well as project reporting and discussion. Final deliverables will be a fully-functional prototype, a website and report, and some form of promotional material (e.g., a concept video or a poster to be presented at a showcase event).

Prerequisite: A grade of C or better in CS 3724 and CS 3744.