This study has variously been called interaction design, usability engineering, user interfacing, usability design, user-centred interface design, and so on. In this activity we investigate what HCI is including: • the user and the difference between the user model and the program model • the difference between goal and task based user focus • usability and user friendliness • forms of user interface: system and software; allowing for individual differences • design devices in HCI such as metaphor, idiom and affordance • user centric design and the design process • elements of good design; placement, harmony, typefaces and colour. This unit contains 7 classroom-tested activities to reinforce concepts introduced.

Windows Live Movie Maker is a free, simple to use, video-editing program from Microsoft. It comes with Windows 7 or can be downloaded as part of Windows Essentials 2012. In these activities we investigate: the Movie Maker interface and controls, loading and arranging video clips, making transitions between clips, splitting and trimming clips, adding background music, inserting titles and credits, including with overlays, loading still images, adding captions, using special effects, and publishing the movie in various formats. All video files required for the activities are available as a free download through a link at the bottom of the title page.

A step-by-step, fully illustrated guide to using Microsoft Word (part 3 of 3 - advanced). The activities include: application and adaption of styles and style sets; outline view; creating a tables of contents; bookmarking, page numbering, cross referencing and hyperlinks; indexing a document; comparing and combining documents; recording and using macros; data entry forms; and document protection. All files required for the activities are available as a free download through a link at the bottom of the title page.

A step-by-step, fully illustrated guide to using Microsoft Word (part 2 of 3 - intermediate). The activities include: working with tables to display information; the Draw Table tool; formatting a table; using tabs to layout text and images; special tabs; form letters; mail merging; creating address labels; and creating, using and saving templates. All files required for the activities are available as a free download through a link at the bottom of the title page.

In this unit we will explore typography, the appearance and lay out of text and how it can be used in Adobe Photoshop. Step-by-step instructions are suitable for Photoshop CS4, CS5, CS6 and CC, and on a PC or Mac. To do this we will investigate: •• typography terminology • categories of typefaces – serif, san serif, decorative, other • type style and type size • alignment and direction • type tools in Photoshop • choice of typeface • paragraph type in Photoshop • the use of white space • leading, tracking and kerning • type special effects, filters and masks in Photoshop • typographic hierarchy.

This unit looks at aspects of the design process and includes assessment items leading up to a major project. To do this we investigate: • the design-process model of discover, define, develop and deliver • research and information gathering • the creative process from ideas and drafting through to prototype • conduct a mini project • persuasive visual statements – visual communication, aspects of image communication and typographic hierarchy • implement a major project utilising the design-process model.

In this unit we investigate: • semiotics and graphics • reaction to sign and symbols: gain attention, convention and culture, response • denotation and connotation • principles of gestalt theory: similarity, continuation, closure, proximity, common fate, figure and ground • the role of Gestalt theory plays in graphics.

In this unit we will explore typography, the appearance and lay out of text and how it can be used in Adobe Illustrator. Step-by-step instructions are suitable for Illustrator CS4, CS5, CS6 and CC, and on a PC or Mac. To do this we will investigate: • typography terminology • categories of typefaces – serif, san serif, decorative, other • type style and type size • alignment and direction • type tools in Illustrator • choice of typeface • the use of white space • leading, tracking and kerning • typographic hierarchy.

Object-role modelling is a proven, teachable, method of developing database tables in optimal normal form. In this investigation we will look at: • problems with flat-file databases: redundancy, inefficiency, update anomalies and data loss • optimal normal form and object role modelling • universe of discourse and UoD experts • elementary sentences: entities, reference mode, labels and roles • developing conceptual schema diagrams • arity and ternary relationships • surplus and derived entities • uniqueness constraints: many:1, 1:1 and many:many • the normalisation process • constraints: mandatory, entity, frequency, equality, exclusion, external, and subset. This unit of work contains 10 classroom-tested activities to reinforce the concepts developed, as well as a fully worked exemplar of the CSDP (conceptual schema design process).

This investigation looks at: • what a 3GL computer program is; compiled and interpreted programs • the basic constructs needed to make a program • pseudocode, flowcharts, Nassi Shneiderman Diagrams, and structured development charts • the role of sequence in programming • using variables to store values; types of variables; declaring variables; naming conventions • constants and comments • selection: conditions and logical operators • nested selection and case statements • iteration: definite and indefinite, pre-tested and post tested • subroutines: procedures and functions • passing parameters by reference or value • scope: local, module/unit, and global • recursion. This unit contains 8 classroom-tested activities to reinforce concepts, including the development of programs from algorithms.

This unit looks at a formal way of going about structuring a solution to complex programming tasks using the Software Development Cycle. It also investigates some of the more useful ways of handling data in a 3GL such a C++, Java, Pascal or VB, by looking at: • using pseudocode • arrays • sorting • records • string handling • file handling • the software development cycle • structured programming • module testing • programming projects.

An investigation into artificial neural networks (ANNS) that looks at: • what a neuron is and how the brain uses neurons to learn and to process information • how artificial neurons work and how they can mimic natural neurons • building a simple brain from neurons • how to train an artificial neural network • calculations involved with artificial neurons • programming and training an ANN simulator, then using it to determine new output • the role and applications of ANNs. This unit contains 6 classroom-tested activities to reinforce concepts, including the use of an ANN simulator.