User-Centered Technology: A Rhetorical Theory for Computers and Other Mundane Artifacts (Studies Scientif Tech Communic)

Description

Presents a theoretical model for examining technology through a user perspective.

Winner of the 1999 Best Book presented by the National Council of Teachers of English NCTE Awards for Excellence in Technical and Scientific Communication

User-Centered Technology presents a theoretical model for examining technology through a user perspective. Johnson begins with a historical overview of the problem of technological use from the ancient Greeks to the present day-a problem seen most clearly in historical discussions of rhetoric theory. The central portion of the book elaborates on user-centered theory by defining three focal issues of the theory: user knowledge, human-technology interaction, and technological determinism. Working from an interdisciplinary perspective, Johnson uses rhetoric theory to present a definition of user knowledge; human factors engineering to illuminate the ideological presuppositions built into technology design; and history, philosophy, and sociology to explain technological determinism, possibly the greatest impediment to user-centered technology development in modern times. The latter part of the book applies user-centered theory in two contexts: the nonacademic sphere, where the writing and design of computer user documentation is discussed, and the academic sphere, through a discussion of how user-centered concepts might drive university technical communication and composition curricula.

Publisher ‏ : ‎ State University of New York Press
Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 5, 1998
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Print length ‏ : ‎ 195 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0791439321
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0791439326
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.4 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.49 x 9 inches
Best Sellers Rank: #2,883,443 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #514 in Technical Writing Reference (Books) #1,008 in Communications #1,337 in Social Aspects of Technology
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