• International Journal of Contents
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.44-55
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• 2015

There has been a significant paradigm shift in the book industry from print to digital, with the increased use of electronic books (e-books) on e-book readers. The major online booksellers and publishers are devoting their energies to the growth of the e-book market, resulting in an upward spiral in e-book usage, and a resultant increase in the number of downloaded e-books in an e-book reader library. However, there are comparatively few features for e-book management and search in most e-book reader libraries, particularly in smartphone environments. In addition, the user interfaces of e-book management in e-book readers are highly diverse, which has led to major usability issues. In this paper, we analyze user preferences for e-book management and search in the libraries of the five most commonly used e-readers for the Android smartphone platform via a questionnaire survey. Then, we suggest ideal alternatives in addition to user-friendly features based on user preferences for managing e-book libraries, to allow users to more easily browse collections, thereby enhancing the usability of e-book readers.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.14 no.9
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• pp.141-152
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• 2014

The user interfaces of electronic-book (e-book) readers in the e-book market are highly diverse, and this has led to major usability issues. In this paper, we analyze user preferences in terms of feature-setting options and the use of touchscreen actions in the six most commonly used e-book readers for smartphnoes. We identify alternatives for these features, which can enhance the usability of e-book readers, based on these user preferences. The survey results for the feature-setting options show that it is desirable to support at least eight background colors, as well as the ability to specify the color of the background icons. Adjusting the screen brightness using a setting bar with the support of an auto-brightness option is desirable, as in using +/- buttons to adjust the font size, as well as approximately 10 font faces. We find that it is desirable to support fade, slide, scroll and curl page-turing options, in addition to a simple non-animated page-turning effect, and that page movement should be accomplished using a scroll bar with the support of the page movement features by entering a page number, and by using the table of contents as well as bookmarks. The survey results on the use of touchscreen options indicated that it is useful to be able to configure the screen layout of an e-book reader by dividing it into three areas: left, right, and center. And then, when users briefly touch the left and right areas, it is ideal to move to the previous and subsequent pages, respectively; and when they briefly touch the center region, it is desirable to display a touch feature menu. We believe that the results of this study may provide guidance in the design of user interfaces for e-book readers.

• Journal of Digital Contents Society
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.105-112
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• 2015

The recent announcement of the EPUB3.0 e-book standard with enhanced features is expected to bring about much development and change to the production and circulation of e-books. This study thus set out to implement an EPUB3.0-based e-book containing various layout screens and interactive functions to stimulate readers' interest and investigate the production method considering the simultaneous publication of paper book and e-book. As for methodology and content, the investigator completed an edition and layout design and added an interactive function to it with Adobe Indesign CC(2014) and saved it as an EPUB3.0 file. She then opened the save EPUB file in the Sigil program, checked its specific codes and errors, and made revisions for its completion. The completed EPUB3.0 file was put to the test by installing four EPUB viewers, which were capable of implementing the EPUB3.0 features well based on the fitness results of epubtest.org and uploading files, in desktop and mobile devices. The present study claims its significance by implementing an EPUB3.0-based e-book capable of fixed layout and interactive features, cutting down the time and costs to make an e-book considerably by linking and using a production program, and proposing the possibility of simultaneous publication of paper book and e-book.

• Journal of Information Management
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.25-53
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• 2003

Libraries have a variety of resources due to the endless changes of the library environment. Electronic resources have become the one of the important library resources. As an electronic resource, e-Book has emerged recently and is worth of notice to be a great resource in the libraries. This study reviews the history and special features of the e-Book. This paper analyzes the functions and problems of e-Book and changes of the library services related e-Book. The purpose of the study is to point out the problems and suggest the possible solutions of e-Book usages in the university libraries by the survey.

• Journal of Digital Contents Society
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.291-298
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• 2011

The DAISY, an international digital talking book standard, has been established to help reading-disabled people read books normally. As many societies' interests in reading-disabled people are arising, reading environment for them is also getting improved by supplying alternative books. In the digital world, however, there is still lack of e-book playing software for them. In this paper, we design and partially implement an android smartphone e-book viewer. By analyzing the features and relations of DAISY3 files, we can find several important design points to properly implement DAISY3 viewer. We are sure, when using our results, that various DAISY3-compliant e-book viewers can be implemented easily and quickly.

• Journal of Information Science Theory and Practice
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.62-77
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• 2015

This paper describes qualities of a library classification system that are commonly discussed in the LIS tradition and literature, and explains such a system’s three main functions, namely knowledge mapping, information retrieval, and shelf arrangement. In this vein, the paper states the functional requirements of bibliographic classifications, which broadly are subject collocation and facilitation of browsing the collection. It explains with details the components of a library classification system and their functions. The major components are schedules, notations, and index. It also states their distinguished features, such as generalia class, form divisions, book numbers, and devices for number synthesis which are not required in a knowledge classification. It illustrates with examples from the WebDewey good examples of added features of an online library classification system. It emphasizes that institutional backup and a revision machinery are essential for a classification to survive and remain relevant in the print and e-environment.

• Journal of the Korean Society for information Management
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.245-271
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• 2023

The purpose of this study was to assess the perception of e-book subscription services among the digitally native generation in their twenties, who have a high e-book usage rate. This study employed a mixed-methods approach, combining survey responses and usability testing. It aimed to assess the awareness and usage of e-book subscription services among university students in their twenties, a demographic known for their high utilization of electronic devices and e-books. The survey was conducted among 202 university students, and the responses were categorized and examined based on whether they were users or non-users. As a result of the survey, I found there is different awareness of e-book between users and non-users, on the other hand, convenience and portability are the strong point of e-books for users and non-users commonly also. Usability testing was performed on a group of 10 university students in their twenties who had not previously used the 'Millies Library' application, which is renowned as the most widely-used e-book platform. Following the experiment, participants expressed positive feedback regarding various optional features, convenience, design, and cost-effectiveness. However, they also had negative reactions concerning touch errors, malfunctions, functional practicality, a lack of interest, system issues, and the absence of a library.

• Journal of Information Management
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.71-86
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• 2001

The advancement of Internet and information technology allows people to access information and knowledge resources without the limit of time and place. Recent the development of various readers and wireless communication technologies has made It possible to facilitate the widespread use of electronic books. This paper is describes the definitions, features and advantages of e-books, and examines researches of technologies standards, and digital rights managements related to e-books in Korea and other countries. It also observes a future growth in the production and utilization of e-books in libraries.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.117-125
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• 2013

Existing works to measure readers' understanding of interactive e-books have mainly employed quantitative approach which are difficult to get direct interpretation of the evaluation results. Attentive to interactive, visual and narrative features, this paper proposes a new method for measuring readers' engagement by making them to reconstitute a storyboard. Experimenting with real readers, we validated that this method could give a qualitative assessment that allows finding out problematic narrative phases and the adequacy of interaction formation.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.14 no.8
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• pp.61-73
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• 2014

While past studies on e-books have mainly focused on the uses and gratifications (UG) and technology acceptance model(TAM), this study rather analysed the innovation resistance factors of adopting the e-book based on the innovation resistance model. The research model comprises of two factors: 1) innovation characteristics which include relative advantages, compatability and complexity, 2) user characteristics which encompass attitudes towards innovation and existing products (i.e., paper books). Using online survey questionnaire, this study examined the effects of those innovation and user characteristics on the innovation resistance, and the relationship between innovation resistance and intention of adoption. The results showed that complexity and attitude towards existing products affected the innovation resistance which has negative influence on the intention of adoption. Accordingly, it is necessary to improve the ease of use in the whole process from purchase to reading experiences, and highlight e-books' own interactive features and functions which are perceived as different from paper-book user experience.