• uh :
• uhm :
• ics :
• people :
• robertson :
• courses :
• ICS 665

ICS-665: User Interfaces and Hypermedia

Hypermedia is a form of information organization which intertwines multimedia content to inform, educate, entertain, connect, and otherwise involve users as they engage in information-intensive activities. Hypermedia is becoming increasingly common on the world-wide web, in many software applications and documentation, in education, and in art. Like hypertext, hypermedia confounds content and navigation, creates large nonlinear information spaces, requires users to be active, and supports multiple experiences within an information space. It is increasingly produced and used by non-experts.

This seminar will examine the challenges of hypermedia for users, authors. and information intermediaries. Topics may include (according to the interests of the class):

• Creating hypermedia systems
• Using hypermedia systems
• Indexing, maintaining, and archiving hypermedia
• Evaluating the effectiveness of hypermedia
• Adaptive hypermedia systems
• Non-expert hypermedia collaboration spaces (e.g. myspace)
• Hypermedia and work (e.g. documentation, records, reference, training)
• Hypermedia and formal education (e.g. classrooms, manuals)
• Hypermedia and informal learning (e.g. museums, tours)
• Hypermedia and storytelling
• Hypermedia and social networking

The course will be best if it has a range of students from multiple disciplines including ICS, library science, art, social science, education, etc. Prerequisites are an interest in hypermedia systems and willingness to participate actively in a seminar format.

Format and Requirements

The course is a graduate seminar, which means that everyone participates every week. Every Monday we will choose a topic. On Wednesday everyone should come to class with some ideas for readings based on looking at abstracts. We will decide on the readings and divy up responsibilities for reading and presenting articles. The next Monday, each student will present their readings and contribute to the general topic discussion. Participation in the reading planning and course discussion counts for 40% of the grade.

We will work as a group on a project to be defined by the class members. The project will consist of: