C.W. Post Professor Authors Book on People's Interaction with Computers

Brookville, NY - Web sites can be viewed on handheld devices with a screen the size of a matchbook or on stand-alone screens as big as a chalkboard. With such range in how interactive media is utilized, how can Web site and software designers cater to these audiences and all those in between while creating a functional product?

In his new book "The Resonant Interface: HCI Foundations for Interaction Design," (Addison-Wesley, 2008), Dr. Steven Heim, associate professor of computer science at the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University, discusses the relationship between human-computer interaction (HCI) theory and interaction design and provides the tools needed to build useable interfaces for software and Web sites.

Taking an active-learning approach, each chapter begins with a discussion of a particular HCI topic, which is put into perspective for interface design. The topics are then set in a real-life design scenario that deals with actual interface problems. These topics are further explored through extensive interaction design projects and HCI research topics provided on the book's website, www.aw.com/heim. Through this active learning, readers will gain the experience necessary to truly understand the underlying theory.

A resident of Fresh Meadows, Queens, Dr. Heim is the director of graduate programs for the Computer Science/Management Engineering Department at C.W. Post and is the co-director of the C.W. Post College of Information and Computer Science Usability Lab. Dr. Heim lectures on subjects such as human-computer interaction, interaction design, and Web development on the undergraduate and graduate levels. His research and scholarly interests include topics such as accessibility and computer-based musical composition and performance. He draws from an extensive background in interface development and interactive multimedia including audio applications, interactive animation and digital video. Dr. Heim's background in music and computer programming affords a unique prospective in the field of HCI and interface development. His approach to the learning environment is based on a deep understanding of the educational process gained through years of teaching experience. 

For more information, visit www.aw.com/computing or e-mail steven.heim@liu.edu.

Posted: February 15, 2007