Human-Computer Interaction MSc

In this module you will learn the tools and techniques required to build software systems using a programming language such as Python. You will be introduced to core programming concepts, master their use and get practical experience of how to apply them in appropriate contexts. Specifically, this will comprise developing a working knowledge of variables and types, operators and conditional statements, looping structures and functions, as well as more sophisticated data structures (e.g. lists and classes) and working with files. Using a modern Integrated Development Environment (IDE) you will be exploring fundamental programming principles applicable to modern programming languages including, debugging, testing and error-handling, modularity and code reuse, and discover programming paradigms, for example Object-Oriented Programming (OOP). Overall, you will develop and apply your skills using contemporary development libraries and hone your professional practice through learning industry standard software design principles.

Computing technologies have a range of effects on society, which will be explored in this module. Drawing on relevant theory and research, key issues will be introduced and critically evaluated. Seminars provide the opportunity to critically reflect, and develop skills in verbal communication, around the role of computing professionals in the development and application of technology within society. This module considers topics such as the commercial contexts and drivers which shape computing products, the types of harms and exclusion which arise in an increasingly digital society, the use of technology by governments to provide civic services, and debates around the effects of technology on children and young people. The presentation, potential moral panic and hyperbole around emergent technologies such as AI, and the social media landscape will also be contextualised theoretically. This module presents a holistic view of ethical and responsible computing which not only identifies harms, but also a diverse range of opportunities to create new economic markets, empower individuals, and provide a forum for the sharing of information to challenge existing power structures, e.g. the Panama papers, whistleblowing and ethical hacking. You learn how to identify and use evidence to construct argument, and identify the possible risks, exclusions and harms your work as a computing professional may potentially give rise too, and how to mitigate these.

You will gain a foundational understanding of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) as a discipline that bridges psychology, computing, design, and ethics. The module introduces you to key HCI theories (e.g. mental models, embodied interaction, value-sensitive design), methods (e.g. diary studies, cultural probes), and real-world application areas (e.g. workplace, healthcare, finance). You will learn how HCI has evolved across its three historical waves, and how this evolution informs the development of technologies in all aspects of life. Each week we will explore different topics/domains as case studies of contemporary challenges where HCI plays a critical role.
Example of contemporary challenges addressed in the module include (but are not limited to):
• Workplace automation and emerging forms of labour
• Designing for access, equity, and neurodiversity
• Rethinking attention, and overload in digital life
• Navigating health tracking, self-diagnosis, and care through digital tools

By the end of the module, you will be able to interpret human-technology interactions using appropriate theoretical and methodological tools, and to reflect on how different perspectives (including ethical, social, and cultural) shape the design of user experiences. You will also learn to express HCI insights through creative and research-informed visual formats.

In this module you will learn how to evaluate and select appropriate interaction modalities based on their affordances and be able to justify and articulate how they support different forms of interaction. You will demonstrate how you can configure multiple interaction modalities to meet a specific scenario and apply relevant theories and concerns to critically engage with your design.

Indicative topics include:

• Direct Interaction (e.g. touch, multi-touch, pens, direct interaction, AR manipulation)
• In-direct Interaction (e.g. mouse, game controllers, VR pointing)
• Embodied Interaction (e.g. wearables, body tracking, performative interaction, exercise interaction)
• Tangible Interaction (e.g. embedded computing, RFID, buttons, knobs)
• Output Modalities (e.g. screens, paper, light indicators, dials, sound, haptics)

Cross-cutting themes:

• Sustainability (of the required hardware, and of the interaction techniques) e.g. Energy-conscious design, designing for longevity and reuse.
• Interaction Patterns (e.g. IoT wifi connections, touch-screen design, one-button interfaces)
• Theories of interaction (Kinesthetics, Proxemics, FITTS law)
• Accessibility
• Degrees of Freedom
• XR Interaction (tracking, pointing etc)

The core of this module is learning about different approaches to dialogues with materials drawing on different disciplines and contexts. First you will be introduced to the main theories and ideas behind that modality (e.g. text, language and natural language processing) and then you will engage in a practical workshop where, through practical engagement, we will consider how practitioners engage with that modality. If using non-digital methods, we will critically consider how these principles apply to HCI and AI design practices, collectively addressing the question of what does AI materiality look like, and how can we use it as a design material? This module is at the cutting edge of contemporary thinking around artificial intelligence, and the module content will draw heavily on cutting edge language (and multi-modal) models, so it is expected to change in light of contemporary thinking around the topic.
The different material practices we will consider include (but are not limited to):
• Language, text and natural language processing
• Computer vision, perception, photography, film & graphic design
• Audio and sound design, text-to-speech synthesis, music generation and ambient sound processing as design materials
• Gesture and movement - investigating motion capture, gesture recognition, kinaesthetic interfaces, and embodied interaction as modalities for human-AI dialogue
• Spatial and 3D modelling - considering volumetric capture, spatial computing, AR/VR environments, and 3D modelling (physical and digital) as design materials
• Data visualization and information design - considering how data becomes material through visualization, dashboard design, and information architecture in AI systems
• Collaborative and social interfaces - exploring conversational AI, chatbots, social robotics, and collective intelligence systems as material practices

By the end of the module, you will be able to apply a diverse range of material design practices to AI design, demonstrating knowledge around different modalities and their critical application. You will have critically analysed theories and frameworks in different disciplines in how they apply to AI as a design material.

On this module, you will gain an understanding of how to evaluate interactive technologies through the lens of User Experience (UX) Design. You will study a range of established and emerging UX evaluation methods, developing the ability to critically assess how technologies align with user needs, behaviours, and contextual factors in real-world environments.
Key areas of study include:
• UX evaluation frameworks and methodologies, including both formative and summative approaches.
• Heuristic evaluation, cognitive walkthroughs, and task-based usability testing.
• Quantitative and qualitative data collection techniques, such as performance metrics, satisfaction surveys, and think-aloud protocols.
• Advanced UX evaluation tools, with a particular focus on eye-tracking to explore visual attention and cognitive load.
• The challenges of evaluating ubiquitous, wearable, and mobile technologies, including spatial, temporal, and environmental considerations.
• The role of user-centred design principles in shaping evaluation strategies.
• Data analysis and interpretation, enabling you to derive actionable insights and make evidence-based design recommendations.
You will apply these methods in hands-on, practical investigations, assessing real-world systems through iterative evaluations. By the end of the module, you will be equipped to conduct robust UX research, critically reflect on the evaluation process, and communicate findings effectively key competencies for professional roles in HCI, UX research, and digital product design.

This module will involve conducting a substantial individual research project relevant to your programme of study, based within the broader sphere of computer science and related disciplines. Over the course of completing this module, you will employ skills developed throughout your programme and will augment these with a variety of new skills and abilities which will allow you to complete an original research project and present the outputs of this process in both written and oral forms. This will include not only the specialist technical knowledge required to undertake innovative and rigorous research, but also a range of transferrable professional skills including communication (written and oral), literature searching and reviewing, research methods and design, project management, and personal time management. You will have guest input from external speakers from industry, to highlight and underscore how employers value these core skills as professionally valuable. During the creation of a project approval document, you will be required to engage with the University’s research ethics process and to consider any legal, societal and professional issues raised by your research project.

You will develop your understanding of academic conventions in UK higher education aligned to your level of study, including expectations around critical analysis, structure, argumentation, evidencing, and referencing. The module focuses on developing communication strategies that will help you express your ideas clearly and coherently in written assignments and spoken activities. You will also reflect on your current academic and language skills and develop strategies for development ahead of your assessments.