Usable Content Seminar III
Students interested in Human Computer Interaction, Technologically Mediated Communication, or Usability have an opportunity to get involved in a research project on Tech Mediated Communication (TMC) at Rensselaer by enrolling in the Usable Content Seminar III. With the support of the Society for Technical Communication, the TMC project aims to develop a set of useful paradigms for the analysis, design, and testing of technical communications in a mediated world. The TMC Project is designed to explore the implications of technological mediation for communication and interaction. What makes this tech mediated communication usable? What does it take to design such tech mediated communications? The special focus of this third and final seminar is usability metrics and context-sensitive usability methods. The course combines a seminar format that brings together project faculty and students from five projects with a project meeting format in which students meet with individual project faculty. For students enrolled in the MS in HCI, the Usable Content Seminar III (Comm 6961-01) fulfills the requirement for an Advanced Seminar in HCI. More information about the TMC project itself can be found at the TMC homepage.
In the seminar, five projects are exploring what makes tech mediated communications usable:
- Wikis for Collaboration, Project Director: Jan Fernheimer, fernhj@rpi.edu
- Cross-Cultural Graphics, Project Director: Audrey Bennett, bennett@rpi.edu
- Web Galleries; Project Director: James Zappen, zappenj@rpi.edu
- Cultural Websites Project Director: Patricia Search, searcp@rpi.edu
- Distance Education Environments; Project Director: Robert Krull, krullr@rpi.edu
In addition, Cheryl Geisler (geislc@rpi.edu) serves Seminar Leader and Roger Grice (gricer@rpi.edu) as Usabillity Manager.
Students interested in registering for the Usable Content Seminar III should contact one of these project faculty. For students enrolled in the MS in HCI, the Usable Content Seminar III (Comm 6961-01) fulfills the requirement for an Advanced Seminar in HCI.
Although the course is listed from 12-2 on Wednesdays, we will only be meeting at that time period about 1/3 of the time (about 15 hours total). The rest of the time will be spent with your project teams, at a time that will be arranged within each team. In addition, you can expect a one-time more lengthy meeting (12-5) once toward the end of the semester.
To choose a project, check out the videostream. It will give you a chance to listen to all the faculty describe their individual projects. When you find one you are interested in, I encourage you to email them using the emails above with your interest.
If you want to talk about how this might fit with your interests or get some advice about the projects, send an email to Cheryl Geisler (geislc@rpi.edu).
We're excited to be able to offer this exciting research opportunity to Rensselaer students and we look forward to working with some of you!
Special Note for Distance Students
Because the Usable Content Seminar III is a pilot distance course, it will not be listed in the regular course offerings. Ronnie Rowe will be sending you special information about registering.
In addition, there will be no provision for delayed participation. You will need to be able to arrange to participate 12-2 on Wednesdays roughly 7 times in the semester.
Finally, you can expect a one-time more lengthy meeting (12-5) once toward the end of the semester.