User-centric Computing & HCI Course | IIT Guwahati | Prof. Samit Bhattacharya
Course Details
| Exam Registration | 1988 |
|---|---|
| Course Status | Ongoing |
| Course Type | Elective |
| Language | English |
| Duration | 8 weeks |
| Categories | Computer Science and Engineering |
| Credit Points | 2 |
| Level | Undergraduate/Postgraduate |
| Start Date | 19 Jan 2026 |
| End Date | 13 Mar 2026 |
| Enrollment Ends | 02 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Registration Ends | 16 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Date | 29 Mar 2026 IST |
| NCrF Level | 4.5 — 8.0 |
Mastering the Art of Intuitive Design: A Deep Dive into User-centric Computing
In today's digital age, where consumer electronics are ubiquitous, the bridge between humans and machines has never been more critical. Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) stands at the forefront of this revolution, ensuring technology is not just powerful, but also accessible and intuitive for everyone. The User-centric Computing for Human-Computer Interaction course, offered by the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, provides a rigorous engineering-focused roadmap to mastering this interdisciplinary field.
Course Overview: Building Bridges Between Users and Systems
This 8-week course is designed to move beyond superficial design principles and delve into the computational and engineering foundations of creating effective interactive systems. It addresses the core challenge: making complex products usable for laypersons by integrating creative design (look-and-feel) with robust system design (software and hardware). As per ACM's SIGCHI, computer science plays a central role in this process, and this course embodies that philosophy.
Your Expert Guide: Prof. Samit Bhattacharya
The course is led by Prof. Samit Bhattacharya, an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at IIT Guwahati. With over 15 years of dedicated teaching and research experience in HCI and related areas, Prof. Bhattacharya brings immense expertise. His credentials include:
- Over 85 publications in books, journals, and conferences directly related to course topics.
- Supervision of 6 PhD graduates and 60+ MTech/BTech projects in HCI.
- Extensive experience as Principal Investigator on government and privately funded research projects.
- Author of the key textbook for the course: Human-Computer Interaction: User-Centric Computing for Design.
Who Should Enroll?
This course is meticulously crafted for a diverse audience:
- UG/PG/PhD Students in Computer Science, IT, Design, and related fields.
- Industry Professionals in consumer electronics, UX/UI design, software development, and product management.
- Prerequisites: While there are no strict barriers, a foundational knowledge of core CS subjects like Data Structures, Algorithms, and Software Engineering is highly beneficial for grasping the computational concepts.
Detailed 8-Week Course Curriculum
The course is structured to take you from fundamental concepts to advanced evaluation techniques.
| Week | Core Topics |
|---|---|
| Week 1 | Introduction to user-centric design – historical evolution, key issues, challenges, and current trends. |
| Week 2 | Engineering lifecycle for interactive systems: iterative design, prototyping, and guidelines. |
| Week 3 | User-centric computing framework and introduction to model taxonomy. |
| Week 4 | Classical Computational User Models: GOMS, Keystroke-Level Model (KLM), Fitts' Law, Hick-Hyman Law. |
| Week 5 | Contemporary Models: Modeling 2D/3D pointing, constrained navigation, mobile typing, and touch interactions. |
| Week 6 | Formal Methods: Using matrix algebra for specification, verification, and formal dialog modeling. |
| Week 7 | Empirical Research: Formulating questions, designing experiments, data analysis, and statistical testing. |
| Week 8 | Evaluation Techniques: Expert review, user testing, and model-based evaluation with case studies. |
Essential Learning Resources
The course is supported by seminal texts in the field:
- Primary Text: Bhattacharya, S. (2019). Human-Computer Interaction: User-Centric Computing for Design. McGraw-Hill India.
- Standard References:
- Dix, A., et al. (2003). Human-Computer Interaction (3rd Ed.). Pearson.
- Shneiderman, B., et al. (2009). Designing the User Interface (5th Ed.). Pearson.
Industry Relevance and Applications
The skills acquired in this course are in high demand. Industry support is strong from any company involved in:
- Consumer Electronics (smartphones, wearables, IoT devices).
- Software and Application Development.
- User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI) Design.
- Product Management and Human Factors Engineering.
By understanding the formal, computational underpinnings of HCI, you will be equipped not just to create interfaces, but to engineer user experiences that are efficient, learnable, and satisfying—transforming user interaction from a challenge into a seamless dialogue.
Enroll Now →