Digital Era: Week One - 27th May

I think the best way to define Hypertext is to think of it as a link on a webpage, at least that's how I see it. Hypertext is a way of organising and presenting information linked together that a reader can navigate in a non-linear way. It can also include tables, graphs and some images. Static hypertext can be used to cross-reference collections of data in documents, software applications, or books on CDs. On computers hypertext is accessed through hyperlinks that connect relevant pages to each other. This allows for the browser to select and skip to the part of information that they need. Much like a hyperlink, encyclopedias harness similar methods to access hypertext. Encyclopedias link information by organising its subjects alphabetically and the use of cross referencing to make links between relevant pieces of information and causes the viewer to read in a non-linear way. I think that contents and index's also aid hypertext and links by creating a quick reference to pieces of information. When images, sounds and animations and videos come into the mix we end up with hypermedia. The world wide web itself is a giant collection of hypermedia.



Arguably, the first hypermedia work was the Aspen Movie Map which was developed by Andrew Lippman

and an MIT team in 1978. The system allowed its user to take a virtual tour through Aspen, Colarado. Users were able to choose their path down various streets, clicking on certain buildings allowed the viewer to see interior shots, menus, videos etc. A navigation map also allowed a user to quickly jump to a chosen part of the city







Another example of hypermedia that relates more to books is Ruth Hadlow's 'Patternbook'. This online book features most of what a physical book does. It has a spine, pages bound together, text, images and even gives the illusion of different materials. The only difference is, you can't hold it, but you can physically turn the pages of the book (with your mouse of course). After reading about hypertext and hypermedia, I was expecting a lot more from this example in relation. Perhaps being abble to jump back and forth between pages throughout the book other then the next and previous ones, and perhaps some links to take you to different sections, or even simply some more images, videos, animations etc. As the book is, it displays sequential pages with animation of turning pages. There is also some ambience in the background giving the illusion of reading in a public place. Perhaps it even links to the text (I must admit I did not read any of it for lack of interest). I found that the parts that I was most interested in were the pages in between the text that displayed cut outs, different paper mediums, and hand written texts.