Press On: Principles of Interaction Programming [Hardcover]

Harold Thimbleby (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0262201704 | ISBN-13: 978-0262201704 | Publication Date: September 28, 2007

How to understand and program interactive devices so that they are reliable and easy to use; includes wide-ranging programming insights, tools, and code.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Interactive systems and devices, from mobile phones to office copiers, do not fulfill their potential for a wide variety of reasons--not all of them technical. Press On shows that we can design better interactive systems and devices if we draw on sound computer science principles. It uses state machines and graph theory as a powerful and insightful way to analyze and design better interfaces and examines specific designs and creative solutions to design problems. Programmers--who have the technical knowledge that designers and users often lack--can be more creative and more central to interaction design than we might think. Sound programming concepts improve device design. Press On provides the insights, concepts and programming tools to improve usability. Knowing the computer science is fundamental, but Press On also shows how essential it is to have the right approaches to manage the design of systems that people use. Particularly for complex systems, the social, psychological and ethical concerns--the wider design issues--are crucial, and these are covered in depth. Press On highlights key principles throughout the text and provides cross-topic linkages between chapters and suggestions for further reading. Additional material, including all the program code used in the book, is available on an interactive web site. Press On is an essential textbook and reference for computer science students, programmers, and anyone interested in the design of interactive technologies.Harold Thimbleby is Professor of Computer Science at Swansea University, Wales. He is the author or editor of a number of books, including User Interface Design, and nearly 400 other publications.

"Interface device design and computer science theory often seem worlds apart, where each challenges the constraints and demands of the other. This unique book is a counterpoint. Thimbleby clearly shows how hard-core computer science concepts contribute to the clarity and precision of device design, leading in turn to better design critique and redesign." Saul Greenberg, Professor and iCORE/SMART Industrial Research Chair, University of Calgary

I strongly recommend this book to a wide audience: students, instructors, and especially project managers and designers who are not thoroughly familiar with the foundations of computer science or HCI." Edgar R. Chavez Computing Reviews

About the Author

"Interface device design and computer science theory often seem worlds apart, where each challenges the constraints and demands of the other. This unique book is a counterpoint. Thimbleby clearly shows how hard-core computer science concepts contribute to the clarity and precision of device design, leading in turn to better design critique and redesign."Saul Greenberg , Professor and iCORE/SMART Industrial Research Chair, University of Calgary

Harold Thimbleby is Professor of Computer Science at Swansea University, Wales. He is the author or editor of a number of books, including User Interface Design, and nearly 400 other publications.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 528 pages
• Publisher: The MIT Press (September 28, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0262201704
• ISBN-13: 978-0262201704
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #301,277 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars From a software project manager's perspective, November 22, 2008

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C. Shen - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Press On: Principles of Interaction Programming (Hardcover)

Part of my job is to analyze customer needs for enterprise web applications and then translate the needs into requirements for developers to implement. I have been enjoying this book and its treatment on taking computer science approach to design better user experience. The author Harold Thimbleby has done a good job in presenting the material in a very engaging approach.