Class Human-Machine Interaction

The Human-Machine Interaction course introduces the principles, methods and techniques for evaluating the quality of interaction between people and digital systems, focusing on User Experience (UX), including usability, accessibility, cognitive workload and user satisfaction. It combines a theory-practice component covering the conceptual and methodological foundations of UX evaluation with an intensive Project-Based Learning laboratory, in which students plan, conduct and report an evaluation of a real digital service. Students explore inspection and empirical methods, international standards and guidelines, measurement instruments and data analysis techniques. The course enables students to identify interaction problems, interpret empirical evidence and formulate evidence-based recommendations, preparing software engineers to integrate UX evaluation into the development of effective, efficient, accessible and user-centred digital solutions.

Not applicable

Part I - Foundations of User Experience Evaluation (Theory-Practice Component) Introduction to Human-Machine Interaction and User Experience Human Factors in Interaction Usability Digital Accessibility User Experience Evaluation Methods Instruments and Metrics Planning, Analysis and Communication of Evaluation Studies Part II - User Experience Evaluation Project (Laboratory Component) Planning an Evaluation Study Inspection-Based Evaluation Study Design and Execution Empirical Evaluation of User Experience Analysis and Interpretation of Results Recommendations and Communication

The course combines two complementary pedagogical approaches. The theory-practice component uses active learning methods, combining short lectures with case analysis, discussion, problem-solving and practical exercises. The intensive laboratory component follows a Project-Based Learning (PBL) approach. Working in small groups, students design, conduct and communicate a complete User Experience evaluation study of a real digital service, with guidance from the lecturer. Professional tools are used, including remote testing platforms, accessibility evaluation tools, standardised questionnaires and applications for data analysis. Generative Artificial Intelligence may support research, organisation, analysis and communication, provided that it is used transparently, critically and ethically.

Rogers, Y., Sharp, H., & Preece, J. (2023). Interaction Design: Beyond Human-Computer Interaction (6th ed.). Wiley. International Organization for Standardization. (2019). ISO 9241-210:2019 Ergonomics of Human-System Interaction - Part 210: Human-centred Design for Interactive Systems. ISO. International Organization for Standardization. (2018). ISO 9241-11:2018 Ergonomics of Human-System Interaction - Part 11: Usability: Definitions and Concepts. ISO. Tullis, T., & Albert, B. (2022). Measuring the user experience: Collecting, analyzing, and presenting UX metrics (3rd ed.). Morgan Kaufmann. Sauro, J., & Lewis, J. R. (2016). Quantifying the user experience: Practical statistics for user research (2nd ed.). Morgan Kaufmann.