The code for this unit has been changed from IMS5302 to FIT5091 in accordance with new Faculty procedures.

The role of the unit is to provide an overview of issues relating to Human Factors and usability that need to be considered in design of systems. It is important to the area of systems development

There are no similar units taught by the Faculty

The University and Faculty seek to graduate students with strong, employable skills. This unit provides students with knowledge important for business and building usable systems.

At the completion of this unit the students will have knowledge of:

C1. The principles and practices of Human Factors in the design of Information Systems

C2. The importance and role of usability and usability testing and evaluation in Information Systems design

C3. The major issues and approaches to designing systems that take into account Human Factors

C4. What constitutes good and poor design from a user perspective

C5. How to conduct a usability test

This unit aims to provide a detailed understanding of the principles and practices of user interface design for computer-based systems from a human factors perspective. Through the process of studying this unit students will come to appreciate and understand the principles behind designing for usability and be able to apply the theories, principles and guidelines for incorporating human factors in the design of computer systems. The unit will examine issues in the design of system interfaces from a number of perspectives and how this can be managed during the development process. It will explore contemporary issues in interface design, establish principles for effective design and how to build usable systems. The unit also focuses on evaluation of systems, different types of evaluation and usability testing. Students will also explore the application of human factors design in other environments such as virtual reality and mobile devices.

• Norman, D., (1990). The design of everyday things. Doubleday.
• Shneiderman, B and Plaisant C. (2005). Designing the user interface. Addison Wesley.

24 credit points of IMS 9000-level units, or equivalent; or FIT9003, FIT9004, FIT9005, FIT9006, or equivalent; or 24 credit points of graduate level units in the Graduate Diploma in Information Management and Systems, or the Graduate Diploma in Information and Knowledge Management, or the Graduate Diploma in Business Systems, or the Master of Information Management and Systems, or the Master of Information Management and Systems (Professional), or the Master of Information Technology, or the Master of Business Systems, or the Master of Business Systems Professional, or equivalent; or an approved undergraduate degree in information systems (IS) or information management (IM) or equivalent.