Abstract

This paper analyzes user preferences on the basic structure of digital textbook contents based on the PDF and HTML formats. This was conducted by analysing the data from an online survey on user preferences for the representative structures of the PDF- and HTML-based digital textbook contents that are currently used on the Web. Results show that in the PDF format, the structure with TOC(Table Of Contents) links on the left screen and the main content on the right was most preferred by 82% of the respondents. In terms of the viewing method, the one that presents one page of the textbook fitted to the width of the computer screen in a single-page view was regarded as the best. Similarly, in the HTML format, the structure with TOC links on the left frame and the main content on the right using 2-frames was revealed as the most preferred by 84% of the respondents. However, the structures of the PDF- and HTML-based digital textbook contents employed by most existing Web sites go against the users` preferences. Accordingly, for digital textbook development in the future, user preferences must be considered to allow students to read the contents more easily and conveniently.

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