ECEA 5347 Rapid Prototyping of Embedded Interface Designs

2nd course in the Embedded Interface Design Specialization

Instructor: Bruce Montgomery, Ph.D., Senior Instructor

This is the second of three courses in the Embedded Interface Design (EID) specialization, the online version of the EID class offered on campus at CU Boulder. This course is an introduction to rapid prototyping concepts, platforms, software, and design perspectives that can be applied to embedded devices and systems. The class looks at key considerations for rapid prototyping, product realization, and wireless designs. It then looks at tools and methods for embedded user interfaces for prototypes and products.

Development of embedded device prototypes also includes a review of platforms, operating systems, and other tools. The class closes with a review of various design perspectives for connected embedded devices and systems, including wearables and voice user interfaces. Includes practical programming exercises using key tools such as Qt, HTML, and Python.

Prior knowledge needed: ECEA 5346 User Experience Interface Design for Embedded Systems

Syllabus

Duration: 3 hours

An introduction to rapid prototyping of embedded devices and interfaces. Includes a review of prototyping; approaches, goals, fidelity, and other concerns. Also a look at the embedded device product development cycle and how it relates to prototyping, as well as special considerations for prototypes and products that use wireless communications. Includes a brief review of the class programming assignments for prototyping Qt and HTML interfaces as used for embedded devices, and pre-project preparation suggestions.

Duration: 3 hours

A review of the mechanics and methods of creating user interfaces for embedded devices and systems. We'll look at using Qt, HTML, and other tools for creating prototype and product interfaces. We'll consider best practices for GUI designs, and look at the microinteraction model, which helps isolate key interactions to create signature moments for our device designs. The first development project, developing a Qt interface with Python, is also part of this module.

Duration: 3 hours

In this module we'll look at choosing elements for prototyping embedded devices. First a look at the Pugh Matrix for assessing alternative designs by examining ranked criteria, then a review of hardware platforms and supporting software operating systems that can combine to provide a prototype of a working embedded device or system. In particular, we'll look at the elements of FreeRTOS for microprocessor based prototypes that may need IoT or cloud connectivity. The second programming project, developing an HTML-based device interface is part of this module.

Duration: 3 hours

This module examines various views of developing IoT and connected embedded devices and systems. We will consider the impact of data, its form, structure, and flow on designs, and we will consider some different perspectives on how we consider aspects of designs. We'll look at the use of Artificial Intelligence elements in developing networks of IoT devices, and we'll examine some specific design considerations foe wearable devices and voice user interfaces. Also in this module we'll perform peer reviews on the development performed earlier in the class to compare and contrast approaches for prototyping device UIs.

Duration: 2 hours

Final Exam for this course. If you've upgraded from the non-credit to the for-credit version of this course, please make sure you review the additional for-credit materials in the Introductory module and anywhere else they may be found.

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Grading

Assignment
Percentage of Grade

Week 1: Quiz on Rapid Prototyping, Product Development, RF Design

5%

Week 2: Quiz on Prototyping Device UIs

5%

Peer Review: Project 1 – Qt-based UI development with Python

15%

Week 3: Quiz on Prototyping Embedded Devices

5%

Peer Review: Project 2: HTML-based UI development with Python

15%

Week 4: Quiz on Design for IoT Devices

5%

Peer Review: Peer review of prior programming projects

25%

Week 5: Final Exam

25%

Letter Grade Rubric

Letter Grade 
Minimum Percentage

A

93%

A-

90%

B+

87%

B

83%

B-

80%

C+

77%

C

73%

C-

70%

D+

67%

D

60%

F

0%