First International Conference on Advances in Computer-Human Interaction
Usability Practice: The Appealing Way to HCI
Cristian Rusu, Virginia Rusu, Silvana Roncagliolo
Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Valparaiso, Chile
{cristian.rusu, virginica.rusu, silvana}@ucv.cl
Abstract
The importance of Human-Computer Interaction
(HCI) education for software professionals should be
evident and well understood, when designing
Computer Science (CS) programs, at all levels.
Unfortunately there is a lack of HCI courses in
Chilean CS programs. It is difficult and usually highly
bureaucratic to change curricula. It is only a matter of
good will to make small changes in the courses
approach and emphasis. An appealing way to
introduce HCI at all computer science curricula levels
is by systematically including usability practices,
especially usability evaluations.
1. Introduction
The Special Interest Group on Computer-Human
Interaction (SIGCHI) of the Association for
Computing Machinery (ACM) defines Human-
Computer Interaction (HCI) as a discipline concerned
with the design, evaluation, implementation of
interactive computing systems for human use, and with
the study of major phenomena surrounding them [35].
The importance of HCI education for software
professionals should be evident and well understood,
when designing Computer Science (CS) programs, at
all levels. It sounds good in theory, but is difficult in
practice. It is rather common that professors involved
in CS programs usually consider HCI to be a
secondary matter. It has serious consequences for the
training of the software professionals, as they will
focus on the inner part of the software systems,
ignoring the importance of the outer part (the
interface). What will we get then? Top models dressed
in poor clothes, and not in the haut couture creations
they deserve! [25], [27].
The extraordinary development of the HCI field,
both as theory and practice, is poorly reflected in South
America, with the notable exception of Brazil [1], [3],
[9], [32]. This unfortunate rule is followed by Chile.
There is an obvious lack of HCI courses in Chilean CS
0-7695-30876-9/08 $25.00 2008 IEEE
DOI 10.1109/ACHI.2008.14
programs and systematic research in HCI area. There
are rather exceptions, due to enthusiasts. Research
centers (as Center for Web Research, University of
Chile) or companies that offer usability services are
also exceptions [33]. The coordination of the isolated
Chilean efforts in HCI is difficult to perceive (if there
is one!), and the Chilean chapter of SIGCHI is still a
Prospective Chapter [35]. There is a governmental
intent to offer guidelines for web-based systems
development, including usability practices [34]. Even
if the proposal is quite general, it is however a good
starting point.
Our interest in getting better user interfaces came
from practice, as we have a rather extensive previous
experience in software development [26], [29], [30].
Later on, we discovered HCI as a well established field
of CS. We are teaching HCI as optional subject in
undergraduate CS curricula in Pontificia Universidad
Catlica de Valparaso (PUCV), Chile, since 2003. A
major step forward was the introduction of HCI as
compulsory subject into the curriculum of a Master
Degree (MD) program in CS (in PUCV), in 2006. An
appealing way to introduce HCI at all CS curricula
levels is by systematically including usability
practices. We are now trying to establish usability
evaluations as standard practice over the whole
curricula.
2. The beginning: HCI as optional subject
in Computer Science undergraduate
programs
The easiest way to improve the CS curricula is by
means of the optional courses [20]. As there were no
HCI subjects in CS curricula in PUCV, we proposed an
HCI course as optional subject, back in 2003. We
strongly believe in a user-centered approach for
interface design and software development [4], [5],
[15], [16]. Our HCI course mainly focuses on usability,
which is practically the core of the course [21]. The
ISO 9241 standard defines usability as the extent to
which a product can be used by specified users to
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achieve specified goals with effectiveness, efficiency
and satisfaction in a specified context of use.
Designing for maximum usability should be the main
goal of the software design. There cannot be software
without software users! That is why we consider
usability as the most important software attribute [21],
[23], [25], [27], [29].
As new comers in Chile, but with extensive
teaching experience in Europe (Romania), maybe the
biggest challenge was to adapt ourselves to a higher
education system that does not explicitly include
practical academic activities (seminars, laboratories),
like the Romanian system does. We had to include all
these activities during the regular classes schedule,
which was quite a challenge. We didnt count anymore
on the support of an assistant professor. We didnt
even have a tutor student (ayudante), as optional
courses do not include such activities. As we believe
that a HCI course at undergraduate level should put a
special emphasis on practice, it was difficult to include
as many practical activities as we would like.
We gradually increased the weight of practical
activities, and we came to focus more and more on
teaching the students how to put the HCI theory into
practice. That is why we are trying to include as many
practical exercises as possible, especially usability
evaluations [12], [13], [14], [17]. Two Usability
Laboratories were opened in PUCV in 2006, which are
of great help in our teaching and research activity.
These are the very first Software Usability Labs in the
Central area of Chile, and some of the very few
existing in Chile. The Usability Labs are particularly
important, because some usability evaluations require
this kind of infrastructure.
During the development of their HCI project,
students have to apply the usability concepts, to cross-
evaluate prototypes, and to improve them based on the
evaluations they performed. They have to highlight the
changes and the improvements they have made, in
public presentations. As the undergraduate HCI course
is open for two different programs, we strongly
encourage the formation of mixed teams, including
students that belong to different programs. Even if they
dont have yet (much) working experience, they bring
different points of view, which definitely enrich the
proposed solutions.
The HCI course is very appealing for the students as
it offers them a whole new world. They have a solid
background in CS courses, but the curricula are
definitely neglecting the most important counterpart of
the interactive software systems, the users! More than
60 students applied for the HCI course during the first
semester of 2007, but (for logistic reasons) we were
able to accept only 30 of them.
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Based on the feedback that students gave us, we
intend to split the current one semester HCI
undergraduate course in two parts (two semesters). The
first course will offer the HCI theoretical background,
and some practice (basic usability evaluations, as
heuristic evaluations and usability tests). The second
one (tentatively named Usability Engineering) will
focus on practice, applying usability practices over the
whole software development process. Common
usability evaluations will be complemented by basic
techniques such as user interviews, brainstorming
sessions, prototyping, and questioner design. They
seem easy to understand and perform, at the first sight,
but we realized that students have serious problems
when applying them in practice. The new structure
composed by two optional courses will be tentatively
implemented in 2008.
3. The major battle: HCI as compulsory
subject in Computer Science graduate
program
A major step forward was the introduction of HCI
as compulsory course into the curriculum of the MD
program in CS, a program that PUCV offers since
2006. We consider that the introduction of the HCI as a
compulsory course into the new curricula was a major
battle we won. Some of the arguments that helped us
to win this battle were:
The successful experience of teaching HCI as
optional course in undergraduate program,
The interest of the students,
The feedback of the ex-undergraduate students
(now software professionals) that have graduated
the HCI course,
The demand of the potential MD students.
Surprisingly, the software professionals seem to be
more convinced of the importance of HCI than our
own colleagues (professors of CS programs). The
belief comes from practice, from their professional
experience. We find this extremely important, as it
proves the awareness of the importance of HCI
practices. This is stronger and more important than any
bureaucratic argument that may occur when designing
CS curricula. It is particularly encouraging for the
Latin American context.
The graduate HCI course includes some HCI basics
(for students without prior experience in HCI), without
entirely repeating the content of the undergraduate HCI
course. It brings the concepts to a higher level, as we
have to focus on preparing both HCI practitioners and
researchers in CS graduate program [23].
We kept the main focus on usability, and usability
evaluation, but we introduced new topics, as elements
of semiotic engineering [2], [6], [7], [8]. Besides usability test, the freshman are (many times) good
usability evaluations, graduate students are performing candidates!
communicability evaluations on a regular basis [18], More and more students are choosing HCI or HCI-
[31]. Communicability evaluations require the use of a related subjects for their graduation theses (see Figure
Usability Laboratory, that is why in PUCV it became 1). As the MD program started in 2006, graduate theses
possible to perform such evaluations only in 2006. are supervised since 2007. In addition, it has to be
As we consider usability practice particularly mentioned that four graduate students will start their
important, we increased the weight of the practical theses in HCI field in early 2008.
activities, each semester. The third version of the
graduate HCI course, taught during the second
semester of 2007, includes (among others): 10
Five heuristic evaluations,
Four usability tests, 8
One communicability evaluation,
6
One HCI project.
The HCI project that the students have to prepare
4
during the semester includes (as minimum):
Two heuristic evaluations, 2
Two usability tests,
The comparative analysis of the initial and the 0
final prototype that the students have to develop. 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
As the compulsory HCI graduate course was very
successful, we decided to introduce Web Engineering Undergraduate theses Graduate theses
(usability and accessibility - oriented) as graduate
optional subject [22]. The interest was tremendous Figure 1. HCI theses supervised in PUCV
(much more that we could expect): 24 graduate
students had to choose between Web Engineering and The topics of the HCI theses started during 2007
Software Quality (the two optional subject that the MD show a large range of interests. However, most of the
program in CS offered during the first semester of topics focus on usability (in practice). Topics for
2007), and 18 of them have chosen Web Engineering! graduate theses were: (1) Usability in CMMI, (2)
Usability and security in software systems, (3) Web-
4. HCI over the whole curriculum mail usability, (4) Web-mail communicability, (5)
Usability and accessibility in e-learning platforms, (6)
Usability in e-portfolios. Undergraduate theses topics
There is a whole debate over the conflict between
were: (1) Web Usage Mining for web usability
HCI specialists and software engineers [11], [19].
evaluations, (2) Usability evaluations of software for
Fortunately it was easy for us to solve the conflict, as
mobile devices, (3) Automatic usability evaluations, (4)
we teach both Software Engineering and HCI. We are
Languages for interaction modeling, (5) Usability in
trying to take full advantage of teaching both courses,
financial software, (6) Usercentered development of
always highlighting the strong relationship that should
web systems, (7) Usability in e-commerce, (8) Software
exist between the Software Life Cycle and the Usability
accessibility for students with hearing disabilities.
Engineering Lifecycle.
Graduation theses on HCI or HCI-related topics had
There are many arguments that support the
a tremendous impact over the diffusion of HCI, both
introduction of HCI topics early in the CS curricula
among students and professors. They were important
[10]. Introductory CS courses usually focus on
bricks in building the awareness of the importance of
systems, ignoring users most of the time. That is why
HCI in educating CS professionals.
we are stressing from the very first introductory course
Table 1 resumes our experience in introducing HCI
in CS the importance of the users over the systems.
in PUCV, quantifying the efforts that we (subjectively)
Of course, to only postulate the importance of the
think are required in order to implement HCI practices
HCI and HCI practices is not enough, especially in the
(Bureaucracy or Good Will?) in CS curricula [24].
early stage of a CS undergraduate program. Once
Most of the specified activities only require enthusiasts
again, the approach has to be practical, always based
and good will! Actually the only item that required
on examples. We are trying to involve CS students in
bureaucracy was the compulsory HCI graduate
practical HCI activities from their very first semester.
courses. That is why we consider it a major battle won!
As HCI students always need test users for their

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 The first strategy will be implemented by
Table 1. HCI activities in CS programs in PUCV generalizing the introduction of HCI topics early in the
Level Required CS curricula, in the very first course. As the practice is
Activity usually more appealing and persuasive than the theory,
effort
Usability and/or Undergraduate Good Will a good starting point is to include novice students in
HCI topics early in usability tests, first as test users, later explaining them
the Undergraduate the aim and the techniques of the performed tests.
curricula The second strategy is meant to stress the
(Compulsory) importance of usability as basic attribute of the
Usability and/or Undergraduate Good Will software quality, in all courses related to the software
HCI topics in development process. A systematic approach should be
Software
used, both at theory and practice levels. Usability
Engineering courses
(Compulsory) evaluation workshops will be organized for all CS
undergraduate students. They will offer a basic
HCI courses Undergraduate Good Will
theoretical background and (mainly) the methodology
(Optional)
of designing and performing usability tests, and
Usability Graduation thesis Good Will interpreting the collected data, in order to identify
evaluations usability problems and to propose appropriate
(Compulsory) solutions. Workshops will include, as voluntary
HCI or HCI-related Graduation thesis Good Will supervisors, graduate students and students that
theses (Optional) develop their graduation thesis in HCI area.
HCI courses Graduate Bureaucracy The third strategy requires the agreement of the
(Compulsory) authorities and all the professors of the Informatics
Engineering School of PUCV. The objective is to
impose usability evaluations as compulsory practice
5. A systematic approach to usability during the software development process. Usability
practices will have to be proved (not only stated) for all software
products developed as part of the graduation thesis.
Our 4 years experience in introducing HCI in CS
curricula was officially acknowledged, and a new 6. Conclusions
project was recently approved by the PUCVs
authorities (Integracin de pruebas de usabilidad de A CS curriculum has to be dynamic, to adapt itself
software en las prcticas docentes de la Escuela de to the continuous IT changes. We consider HCI as a
Ingeniera Informtica, June 2007). The project basic part of the formative process of the future
purpose is to systematically integrate usability software professionals. Changing curricula is usually a
evaluations (especially usability tests) into the long and bureaucratic process. Improvements are faster
formative process in Informatics Engineering School and much easier to implement by offering new or
(Escuela de Ingeniera Informtica) of PUCV, redesigned optional subjects.
establishing usability evaluations as standard practice We proposed an HCI course as optional subject
over the whole CS curriculum. It is a new stage that back in 2003. The experience was highly successful, so
allows the transition from isolated efforts to a we repeated it every year, in CS undergraduate
systematic approach, integrating the past experiences programs. As we strongly believe in a user-centered
in a consistent frame, which will also include new approach, we are mainly focusing our HCI course on
proposals [28]. usability. We try to improve the course each year, and
Three strategies were proposed: to adapt it to the necessities of local software
To develop a user centered vision early in the companies, mainly based on the feedback received
formative process of CS undergraduate programs, from ex-students. We gradually increased the weight of
To establish software usability as main purpose of practical activities, and come to focus more and more
the software process, in curriculas subjects related on teaching the students how to put HCI theory into
to the software development process, practice.
To establish usability evaluations as current A major step forward was the introduction of HCI
practice during the development of the graduation as compulsory course into the curriculum of the MD
thesis (when the thesis involves software program in CS, a program that PUCV offers since
development). 2006. We focus on preparing HCI practitioners in

268
undergraduate programs, and on preparing both HCI
practitioners and researchers in graduate programs.
We were able to introduce HCI topics all over CS
curricula, as we are teaching courses at all levels:
Computer Science Basics, Software Engineering (both
as compulsory undergraduate courses), Human-
Computer Interaction (as optional undergraduate
course and compulsory graduate course). However,
this is an exception, a fortunate case. Similar results
may be achieved only when the awareness of the HCI
importance exists among the CS professors
community, when there is a good will to do individual
efforts, and when the efforts can be coordinated.
New projects are undergoing or will start soon.
Some of them are require only good will, as the new
optional subjects Web Engineering and Usability
Engineering. Some others involve bureaucracy, as
the systematic approach to usability practices, over the
whole CS curricula, a project that requires the support
and/or the participation of our colleagues, professors of
Informatics Engineering School. The fact that the
project was approved by the PUCVs authorities is not
(only) an acknowledgment of our efforts, but a
rewarding prove that the awareness of the importance
of HCI practices is now a reality in PUCV.
The practice is usually more appealing and
persuasive than the theory. The experience showed us
that an appealing way to introduce HCI at all computer
science curricula levels is by systematically including
usability practices.
We were lucky enough to succeed in introducing
HCI at all CS curricula levels in PUCV. It was an
effort over the years, but very rewarding. The
experience that we showed is probably difficult to
replicate in other universities. It certainly depends on
the specificity of each university and program, but a
similar strategy may be applied. Regardless the
specific conditions, we strongly believe that things are
not always as bad as they seem to be. Small, yet
systematic, changes lead most of the time (sooner or
later!) to rewarding results.
Acknowledgment
Our thanks to Pontificia Universidad Catlica de
Valparaso (Chile), which made possible the
experience described here. We also thank to SERG
(Semiotic Engineering Research Group), of Computer
Science Department of Pontificia Universidad Catlica
de Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), especially to Prof. Dr.
Clarisse de Souza, for all the support and continuous
encourages.
269
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