Designing and Engineering Time: The Psychology of Time Perception in Software (Paperback)

~ Steven C. Seow (Author)
Key Phrases: expressing time, consumer research, perception management, New York, Rabbit Hole, Time Anchor Matrix (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Build Applications, Websites, and Software Solutions that Feel Faster, More Efficient, and More Considerate of Users’ Time!

 

One hidden factor powerfully influences the way users react to your software, hardware, User Interfaces (UI), or web applications: how those systems utilize users’ time. Now, drawing on the nearly 40 years of human computer interaction research–including his own pioneering work–Dr. Steven Seow presents state-of-the-art best practices for reflecting users’ subjective perceptions of time in your applications and hardware.

Seow begins by introducing a simple model that explains how users perceive and expend time as they interact with technology. He offers specific guidance and recommendations related to several key aspects of time and timing–including user tolerance, system responsiveness, progress indicators, completion time estimates, and more. Finally, he brings together proven techniques for impacting users’ perception of time drawn from multiple disciplines and industries, ranging from psychology to retail, animal research to entertainment.

 

     •    Discover how time and timing powerfully impact user perception, emotions, and behavior

     •    Systematically make your applications more considerate of users’ time

     •    Avoid common mistakes that consistently frustrate or infuriate users

     •    Manage user perceptions and tolerance, and build systems that are perceived as faster

     •    Optimize “flow” to make users feel more productive, empowered, and creative

     •    Make reasonable and informed tradeoffs that maximize limited development resources

     •    Learn how to test usability issues related to time–including actual vs. perceived task duration

 

Designing and Engineering Time is for every technology developer, designer, engineer, architect, usability specialist, manager, and marketer. Using its insights and techniques, technical and non-technical professionals can work together to build systems and applications that provide far more value–and create much happier users.

 

Steven C. Seow has a unique combination of experience in both experimental psychology and software usability. He joined Microsoft as a User Researcher after completing his Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology at Brown University with a research focus on human timing and information theory models of human performance. Seow holds Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Forensic Psychology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and wrote his master’s thesis on distortions in time perception. For more information about Steven Seow and his research, visit his website at www.StevenSeow.com.

 

informit.com/aw

 

 

 

About the Author

Steven C. Seow joined Microsoft as a User Researcher after completing his Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology at Brown University with a research focus on human timing. Prior to Brown, the Singapore native completed his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Forensic Psychology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice with a thesis examining the distortion of time perception. Steven constantly confers with colleagues across his company to talk about time and timing issues. Coupled with his scholarly interest in psychology is his passion for computer technology. In his spare time, Steven enjoys tinkering with computer hardware, dabbling with programming languages, and building websites. He lives in Maple Valley,Washington, with his wife and son.

 

For more information about Steven, visit his website at www.StevenSeow.com.

 

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Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Addison-Wesley Professional; 1 edition (May 9, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0321509188
• ISBN-13: 978-0321509185
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #968,536 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2.0 out of 5 stars Spend your own time more wisely, November 3, 2009

By	Portillo Karin (Stockholm, Sweden) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

One of the reviewers thought this book was a gem for experienced programmers, I totally disagree. I'm an experienced programmer and I suggested this book for a book club at work. We are all experienced programmers. But I did not find this book that much helpful. I would rather have spent the time it took to read the book doing something else... like reading About Face 3: The Essentials of Interaction Design (again).

I probably found two or three concepts interesting throughout the book. In general I think it already states the obvious, uses too much comparisons and has too much images (just for the sake of it - without adding value). A MSDN article with say, 20 pages, would have been more than enough instead of a 191 p book. I expected to get some examples from real life software and to get more insight in software and how to handle time.

After reading the book I wanted to get the sense of "Hey! We can do even better software, now let's go and do it!" But instead the book left me feeling like I had wasted my time reading it from cover to cover.

When reading Designing and Enginering Time I though that it appears to be a report from a student, like a master thesis report. When discussing the book with a colleague in the book club he said the exact same thing!

The last two chapters was ok but it is still a "Don't like it" from me.

4.0 out of 5 stars Short & Sweet, April 4, 2009

By	Another Reader (NYC, NY) - See all my reviews

Experienced programmers will find this little book a gem. Seow describes the "time problem" with enough information that developers will make better decisions when dealing with the likes of click response rates, hourglasses and progress indicators.

Why the four stars? IMHO $30 seems expensive for what might've been a great MSDN article.

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent title for any library strong in software development or psychology, November 9, 2008

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

Once a hidden topic, discussions of how systems utilize users' time are now key to designing a solid web application, and nearly 40 years of human computer interaction research prompts Dr. Steven Seow to present a discussion of best practices for reflecting users' subjective perceptions of time in hardware and software alike. DESIGNING AND ENGINEERING TIME: PSYCHOLOGY OF TIME PERCEPTION IN SOFTWARE PSYCHOLOGY AND SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT is an excellent title for any library strong in software development or psychology.