The Brain and Technology: Brain Science in Interface Design

Suited For: Intermediate to Advanced
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What You’ll Learn

  • Human attention—in particular, how the brain decides what is most important and therefore what we should look at first
  • How to create effective designs, through basing them on how the brain manages and prioritizes the sensory information it receives
  • The link between intuition and the evolution of our brains, as well as how to apply this knowledge so as to build software that engages with human intuition
  • How to compose screens that work visually, by tapping into the brain science behind visual recognition
  • Human recollection, and its implications on designing documents and software that support memory
  • How to create products that cater to the brain’s feedback loop, as well as screen controls that tap into our sense of purpose
  • How to build technology that makes learning easier, thus becoming more successful
  • An understanding of how human and social factors affect technology—including future social and technical evolutions

How do you know if your next computer system, app or website will be a success? Well, if you look at all major technological advances in the last few decades, you’ll see that it heavily depends on whether it works well with people. Developments such as email, smartphones, and social networks have all involved some form of human-to-computer interaction and interface. The critical success factor for modern technology has therefore become not what it does but how it interacts with people. For example, can you even imagine life without your smartphone these days? Technology has interwoven itself not only into the human psyche but also quite literally—handheld devices can now be seen attached to peoples’ palms in virtually any setting.

When people use technology, a biological information processor (i.e., the brain) interacts with a mechanical information processor (i.e., the computer)—and this interaction will fail if there is no common ground. If you, as a designer, miss the mark between these two worlds of natural and artificial intelligence, they will collide jarringly. This course will therefore merge brain science and computer science in order to teach you the field of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). You will learn optimal approaches to designing better software, mobile applications, and websites, including online communities, by learning how to create software that interacts with human intuitions. Such knowledge of HCI is now a critical skill—building new hardware and software goods will result in negative returns on investment (ROI) if users can’t or don’t want to use them. Designers must know the basics of brain science in order to practice computer science, not only for people but for communities, too.

The course is created and presented by Brian Whitworth, a registered psychologist who is also trained in computing and has a wealth of experience and qualifications in both fields: BA (Psych), BSc (Maths), MA (Psych), PhD (IS), and Major (Retd.). Each lesson highlights a particular brain-technology difference and uses it to explain what works—and what doesn’t—when people use technology. Every lesson is further divided into ten-minute video blocks, that you can watch independently, so as to fit your learning experience into a busy schedule.

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Earn Industry-Recognized Certificates

Industry giants trust our courses to train their teams, and prestigious universities integrate our content into their curricula. Add your certificates to your LinkedIn profile, résumé, and job applications.

Our clients: IBM, Harvard University, University of Cambridge, NASA, Adobe, Stanford, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, LinkedIn
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Is This Course Right for You?

  • You want an evidence-based curriculum taught by industry leaders.
  • You want real-world design skills that translate directly into professional practice.
  • You want to earn industry-recognized credentials.
  • Your time is too valuable for scattered free content with no structure.
  • You want learning that leads to better roles and stronger earning potential over time.
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Loved by People Around the World

View full testimonial from Phillip Dodson
Phillip Dodson
Phillip Dodson
UI/UX Web Developer

I wanted to thank you! IDF is just the best thing ever. Just ever! Making this information accessible and available at the high level of qua...

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How It Works

  1. Build High-Impact AI and Design Skills

    Industry leaders from companies like Adobe, Google, and NASA teach you real-world skills grounded in industry practice and research.

  2. Combine AI and Timeless Design Skills

    Learn both AI and the human-centered design skills that AI can't replace.

  3. Earn Industry-Recognized Certificates

    Add IxDF Course Certificates to your LinkedIn profile and résumé to show you've completed an evidence-based curriculum taught by industry leaders.

  4. Turn Your Skills Into Career Opportunities

    Use your new skills to take on higher-value work, qualify for promotions or find a role that fits you better.

  5. Build a Network That Supports Your Career

    Connect with designers in 497 cities across 107 countries. Learn together, get mentored, and build relationships that open doors.

Course Overview

  • Each week, one lesson becomes available.
  • Study flexibly. Take as much time as you want.

Lesson 0: Welcome and Introduction

To be scheduled. Estimated time to complete: 1 hour, 32 mins.

Lesson 1: Attention

To be scheduled. Estimated time to complete: 9 hours, 38 mins.

Lesson 2: Context

To be scheduled. Estimated time to complete: 5 hours, 52 mins.

Lesson 3: Intuition

To be scheduled. Estimated time to complete: 9 hours, 15 mins.

Lesson 4: Recognition

To be scheduled. Estimated time to complete: 6 hours, 4 mins.

Lesson 5: Thought

To be scheduled. Estimated time to complete: 7 hours, 27 mins.

Lesson 6: Feedback

To be scheduled. Estimated time to complete: 9 hours, 53 mins.

Lesson 7: Learning

To be scheduled. Estimated time to complete: 9 hours, 55 mins.

Lesson 8: The Future Is Us

To be scheduled. Estimated time to complete: 4 hours, 23 mins.

Lesson 9: IxDF Course Certificate and Course Wrap-up

To be scheduled. Estimated time to complete: 13 mins.

What's Inside IxDF Membership?

  • High-impact design and AI skills

  • Learn from 211 industry leaders

  • 42 evidence-based courses

  • 162 one-hour Master Classes

  • Industry-recognized certificates

  • $2,189 worth of toolkits

  • 9,988 active design jobs

  • 10 structured career programs

  • Global community in 497 cities

  • $6,649 worth of premium tools

  • 276 ready-made templates

  • and much more

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savvina simillidou
savvina simillidou

The strength of the course is that the instructor was speaking very clearly (this is important for a person like me where English is not my native language), also it was never boring. It is more interesting to listen someone that reading something.

Tony Russell
Tony Russell
UX Specialist

Instructor Brian Whitworth was really good. Course content was great and up to date.

Phillip Dodson
Phillip Dodson
UI/UX Web Developer

I wanted to thank you! IDF is just the best thing ever. Just ever! Making this information accessible and available at the high level of quality. Just awesome!