Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2020 - IAT 884 G100

Special Topics IV (3)

Domestic Technology Design

Class Number: 7899

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2020: Mon, 9:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
    Surrey

Description

COURSE DETAILS:

This course explores domestic routines and practices and the design and evaluation of technology to support domestic life.  This includes domestic practice that occurs both within and outside the context of the home. The course will be taught from a human-computer interaction and interaction design perspective.  Thus, it will focus on how an understanding of everyday practice and human needs can inform technology design. The course will cover methods for studying domestic practice and technology design, methods for studying people and their needs, and application creation and evaluation.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

Students will learn to:

  • understand the unique challenges that exist for studying and designing in the domestic realm 
  • understand and apply methodological tools used to study domestic life and evaluate technology use 
  • apply strong presentation skills to conduct informed and engaging presentations of domestic practice and technology design
  • apply knowledge of domestic technology design to the creation of reports as a conference or journal publication
The course will primarily be taught through weekly seminars, lectures, and studio-style class activities.  Students will be required to read and critically reflect on a large volume of readings in the area of domestic life and domestic technologies, present their thoughts on such readings, and complete an in-depth project in the area.  Classes will involve discussions of readings, projects, and hands-on activities.

More details can be found on the course web page for the Spring 2020 version of the course: http://clab.iat.sfu.ca/884/

Grading

NOTES:

1. Project Proposal (10%):

Students will propose two to three potential research topics that they are interested in studying as part of the course and document these in a short project proposal. Project ideas will be evaluated and discussed with the instructor and must be approved.

2. Literature Review (20%):

Students will conduct and prepare a short literature review of work in their selected course project area.

3. Project Plan (20%):

Students will create a detailed project plan that outlines the specifics of what they will do for their project.  For projects that involve conducting a research study, this will involve creating a course ethics application. For projects that involve designing a technology, this will involve, for example, sketches, design scenarios, and descriptions of what is being created.

4. Final Paper and Project (40%):

Students will complete a major project that studies a particular instance of domestic practice or involves the design or evaluation of a domestic technology. Students will document this project by writing a conference-style publication and presenting the work through a conference-style presentation in front of the class.

5. Class Participation (10%):

Students will actively contribute to classroom and online discussions about course material.

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

 

RECOMMENDED READING:

Judge, T., and Neustaedter, C., Studying and Designing Technology for Domestic Life: Lessons from Home, Morgan Kaufmann

Graduate Studies Notes:

Important dates and deadlines for graduate students are found here: http://www.sfu.ca/dean-gradstudies/current/important_dates/guidelines.html. The deadline to drop a course with a 100% refund is the end of week 2. The deadline to drop with no notation on your transcript is the end of week 3.

Registrar Notes:

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS