Outline

• Labs and Assignments Introduction

• Signal Detection Theory
• Experiments:
– Thresholds
– Subjective Magnitudes
– Discrimination
– Adaptation
• Hearing Modality (Audition)
 Labs

1. Psychophysics Experiment Instructional Weeks 3-4

Video
2. Sleep Biometrics Weeks 5-7
3. Hands-free Interfaces Weeks 8-9
4. Website Usability Testing Weeks 10-11
 Assignments: Major Project
802: With Partner; 8215: Individual
Marks: 20%
I will post a schedule for you to sign up for your due date!

1. Select a topic of interest and relevance to HCI (eg. Virtual Reality, Medical
Information Systems)
2. Find 3-4 journal articles on the topic
3. Presentation: findings with your conclusions (10 minutes)
Breakdown of Presentation Mark (10): Organization, Clarity (2)
Technical Content (2)
Design-Original Component (2)
Conclusions (2)
References (2)
4. Prepare a short summary of the articles (4-5 pages)
The written report is due on the day of your presentation
Breakdown of Report Mark (10): Organization (2)
Technical Content (2)
Design-Original Component (2)
Conclusions (2)
References (2)
www.ryerson.ca/library
 Design Project: Create a Website
Individual
Due: at end of semester

• Create a website of yourself or any topic of interest.

• Include: a main page and at least 3 others showing the buttons or menu items
for navigation. You may include any information that you want to (pictures
are recommended, other possible examples include instructional or
demonstration videos etc.)
• It is not necessary to purchase any services or options from your platform.

Grading 10%:
• Document showing the ideation/brainstorming stage of your
design process (2 marks)
• One page summary document in point form highlighting how HCI
concepts learned were implemented (6 marks)
• Overall impression (2 marks)
 The Design Process
Problem Definition
Needs Analysis, Brainstorming Design Prototype

Preliminary Design
Simulations and Experiments Service
Detailed Design and
Feedback
Testing

Design the testing too ! Production

and Modify
(Task Analysis) Delivery

Models
Research
Experiments
Simulations
Surveys
Accident Reports
Field Studies
 Review
Human Performance Engineering
Design and Optimization of System Outcomes through Measurement, Analysis,
Modeling and Application of the findings to the Human Machine System
Engineering Psychology
Specifies the capacities and limitations of the Human in a useable theory of human
performance for the design of improved Human Machine Systems: Poulton (1966)
Experimental Psychology
Determines the laws of Human Behaviour through Experiments
Psychophysics
Experimental studies of Human Perception
Human Factors
“The study of how Humans accomplish work-related tasks in the context of Human-
Machine System operation, and how behavioural and non-behavioural variables affect
that accomplishment.”: Meister (1989)
Ergonomics
Physical and Mechanical aspects of Human Factors
 Review: Psychophysics

Experimental Techniques Main Modalities Qualities

Thresholds Vision Intensity
Subjective Magnitude Audition Frequency
Discrimination Touch
Adaptation Gustation
Reaction Times Olfaction

Sensation versus Perception

Signal Detection Theory
Is the signal present: yes/no ?

http://www.clevelandclinic.org/heartcenter/pub/
history/future/mri.asp?
firstCat=56&secondCat=57&thirdCat=529

Wickens and Hollands, 2000

How our Sensory Receptors Detect

Sensory neurons Signal encoding

Probability of Signal and Noise

A. Martin, G. Doddington, T. Kamm, M. Ordowski, M. Przybocki

Probability of Detection

Wickens and Hollands, 2000

 Stimulus Response Matrix
Actual State of the World
Signal Noise
Yes Hit False Alarm
Interpretation
No Miss Correct
Rejection
 Experimental Conditions:
Variables to Control
• Desired independent variable x=Intensity
• Experimental materials, methods
• Confounding cues, noise, interruptions
• Simulate laboratory setting
Thresholds
Subjective Magnitude
Discrimination
Adaptation
 The Senses
Hearing: The Auditory System

http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/hearing.html
Dr. Marjorie A. Murray
 The Inner Ear

cochlea

http://openlearn.open.ac.uk/mod/resource/view.php?id=263154
Frequency specificity

The place principle

 For Next Week
• Look up how hearing tests are conducted; these are for testing
intensity thresholds at each frequency
• Think about intensity threshold experiments for audition and other
sensory modalities
• What psychophysics experiment could you create for 4 brightness
levels on your computer screen?
• Create a discrimination experiment by adding a bit of extra spice or
sweetener to your favourite beverage. Can you tell the difference?