Needs Analyses and Initial Design of the Handheld Chinese Reading System for Classic Literature

Abstract

In this study we aim to design and implement a handheld Chinese reading system to facilitate Chinese classic literature reading. In order to well design the system, before the system design and implementation, we used the classic Chinese literature, Dream of the Red Chamber, as the reading content for our example, to conduct the needs analysis survey on line. We wanted to investigate the target users’ reading behaviors, difficulties in reading Chinese classic literature, reading experiences with the Dream of the Red Chamber, and personal preferences of the proposed system in terms of shapes and colors of the cloud images, etc. Eventually, the results of data analysis would be helpful for our system design and implementation. Thus we present a conceptual framework of the system based on the data and feedback from the participants. It is our hope with the constructive feedback from the potential users, we will be able to build a significant Chinese reading system to meet the user’s actual needs and expectation so as to foster classic Chinese reading enhanced by the emerging information technologies.