Schedule for CS 6451, Introduction to Human-Centered Computing, Fall 2013

Date Topic Readings Assignment
8/21 Welcome & Overview  
8/28 Examples of Strong HCC Research Read FOUR papers from this list of Noteworthy Papers by Georgia Tech HCC Phd Students and Alumni. Select one (that no one else has picked yet) and write your name on the class wiki on T-Square as the presenter for that paper. Come to class prepared to discuss all four papers and lead the discussion of your one paper. Remember that not everyone in the class will have read the papers you picked, so you will need to summarize the paper. Focus on what is interesting about this paper and what makes the research noteworthy. What makes good HCC research?
9/4 Sociology of Science and Epistemology of Knowledge
  • Thomas Kuhn, "Scientific Paradigms" (electronic reserve)
  • Bruno Latour and Steve Woolgar, "An Anthropologist Visits the Laboratory", chapter 2 of "Laboratory Life"
  • George Lakoff, "A New Realism," chapter 16 of "Women, Fire, and Dangerous Things."
  • Herbert Simon, "Sciences of the Artificial", chapters 1 & 5
 
9/11 Social Shaping of Technology
  • Bijker, "Of Bicycles, Bakelites, Bulbs.", chapters 1 & 2
  • Hughes, Thomas (2007). "Edison and electric light." In "Social Shaping of Technology," edited by Donald MacKenzie and Judy Wajcman. Second edition. NY: Open University Press. (electronic reserve)
First Faculty Research Profile due.
9/18 Politics and Technology; Category Theory  
9/25 Culture
  • Clifford Geertz, "The Interpretation of Cultures," Chapter 1 "Thick Description: Towad an Interpretive Theory of Culture," and "Deep Play: Notes on the Balinese Cockfight."
  • Shore, B., Introduction to "Culture in Mind: Cognition, Culture, and the Problem of Meaning," Oxford University Press (1996)(electronic reserve)
 
10/2 Distributed Cognition Second Faculty Research Profile due.
10/9 Activity Theory
  • Kuutti, Kari (2001). "Activity Theory as a Potential Framework for Human-Computer Interaction Research". Chapter 2 in Context and Consciousness, Activity Theory and Human-Computer Interaction, edited by Bonnie Nardi. MIT Press.
  • Rogers, Yvonne (2012). HCI Theory: Classical, Modern, and Contemporary. Morgan Claypool, Chapter 5, Modern Theories, 5.7 to end.
  • Bryant, S., A Forte and A. Bruckman (2005). "Becoming Wikipedian." Proceedings of ACM GROUP 2005. (ACM DL)
Optional:
 
10/16 Artificial Intelligence
  • Russell & Norvig, Artificial Intelligence, Chapters 1 & 2
  • Goel & Davies, Artificial Intelligence, Handbook of Intelligence
  • Boden Computational Creativity, AI Magazine
First Elevator Pitch of research idea due.
10/23 The Social  
10/30 Learning
  • Bransford, J. D., Brown, A. L., & Cocking, R. R. (2000). How People Learn (Expanded edition). "How Experts Differ from Novices" and "Learning and Transfer." Make sure to read the expanded edition. Available free online, or you can also buy a paper copy.
  • Barab, S. and Squire K. (2004). "Design-Based Research: Putting a Stake in the Ground," Journal of the Learning Sciences. (electronic reserve)
  • Rogers, Yvonne (2012). HCI Theory: Classical, Modern, and Contemporary. Morgan Claypool, Chapter 6, Contemporary Theories.
Second Elevator Pitch of research idea due.
11/6 Legitmate Peripheral Participation
  • Lave, J. and Wenger, E. (1991). Legitimate Peripheral Participation. (whole book)
 
11/13 Ubiquitous Computing
  • Weiser, Mark (1991). The computer for the 21st century. Scientific American.
  • Want, Roy (2009). "An Introduction to Ubiquitous Computing." In Ubiquitous Computing Fundamentals, edited by John Krumm. Chapman and Hall/CRC.
  • "Rogers, Yvonne (2006). ""Moving on from Weiser's Vision of Calm Computing: Engaging UbiComp Experiences."" Proceedings of Ubicomp 2006."
 
11/20 Discussion of Proposals   Research Project Proposal due.
11/27 No class--Happy Thanksgiving!    
12/4
  • Tufte, Edward (1997). Visual & Statistical Thinking: Displays of Evidence for Decision Making. Graphics Press.
  • Dourish, Paul (2011). What is Plagiarism?
 

Readings and assignments are subject to change.