EDUCATIONAL GOAL

This course aims at providing students with the methodological and technical knowledge and skills needed to develop, in a systematic and efficient way, high quality web-based multi-device hypermedia applications (for desktop computer, tablet, or smart phone).

TOPICS

Course contents include two main components: a technology-oriented componentand a methodology-oriented component.

The technology-oriented part aims at developing key competences related to the implementation of complex web based hypermedia. Topics addressed include:

• Key concepts of: Multilayer Web Architectures, Cloud Computing, Web protocol, Multimedia Formats, Web vs Hybrid vs Native Applications
• Presentation technologies and languages: XML (XHTML) and Cascading Style Sheets (CSS3)
• Technologies for client-side oriented web applications (HTML5, JS, JQuery)
• Technologies for dynamic web page queries (PHP, NodeJS)
• Architectural Patterns for web applications: Model View Controller (MVC) such as Angular JS
• Interfacing web applications with DBs (SQL)
• Mock-up tools (e.g., Pencil, Balsamique, Invision) that enable to quickly and easily create interactive mockups of web-based hypermedia for stationary and mobile devices.

The methodology-oriented part focuses on conceptual design. It proposes IDM (Interactive Dialogue Model) as a means to define and represent information architecture, navigation, interaction, and presentation features of complex multi-device applications that are truly usable, i.e., easy to use and consistent with users’ requirements.

Additional topics include usability evaluation and user requirements management.

The course includes:

-          Ex-cathedra lectures

-          Hands-on sessions, devoted to exemplify, through supervised exercises, demos, and case studies, the above topics

-          Supervised project activities (project tutoring) devoted to support students in the development of their project.

-          Industrial seminars organized with testimonials from major national and international companies or start-ups

Please notice that unfortunately we will not be able to offer project tutoring after the end of the course: students are invited to perform their project work as much as possible during the course to benefit of tutoring support

EXAM AND EVALUATION

The exam is project-based. A project consists in the design and implementation of a (multi-device) web based hypermedia prototype. Application requirements are assigned by the teachers.

The project deliverable is composed of 2 parts:

-IDM design documentation + interactive mock-up (developed using one of the mock-up tools presented during the course)

- A working web based hypermedia prototype, implemented using the technology presented during the course

Team work (max 3 students) is strongly recommended but individual projects can also be considered.

Project outcomes can be delivered during the course or in the official exam dates.

Evaluation criteria

The exam aims at verifying that students have understood the contents of the course and how to apply the proposed methods and techniques, developing design and implementation skills at a good degree.

Evaluation criteria include: Completeness; Methodological and technical correctness of the solutions (in particular, consistency with the assigned requirements); Originality of the solutions and effort invested in the project development activity

In Italian

Chapter 8 of book: Gustavo Rossi, Oscar Pastor, Daniel Schwabe and Luis Olsina "Web Engineering: Modelling and Implementing Web Applications", Springer 2008

Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) is a way to separate a document's structure from its presentation. Eric Meyer an internationally known expert on HTML and CSS, tackles the subject with passion and delivers a comprehensive and thorough update to his groundbreaking book.