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Class 1: Hypertext: text, tradition, technology

In this class we look at the historical and conceptual basis for hypertext and some associated technologies. In the collaborative Activity, we examine various kinds of "texts" and discuss their properties and how those properties influence the possibilities for linking them - for including them in a hypertext resource.

1. Hypertext terms and tools
2. Hypertext definitions
3. A brief history:
   • Human language; analogue and digital communication
   • Alphabet
   • Printing
   • Hypertext as a text technology
   • Electricity
   • Vannevar Bush's Memex
   • Nelson and Xerox
   • Apple Macintosh computer.
   • Hypertext research: Landow, Bolter et al
4. Class collaborative activity 1

Activity 1

1. Survey the set of example texts. See some collective commentary

2. Each group to choose 3 texts. Name/describe as many of their properties as you can (eg author, physical form, audience, distribution, purpose, information structure)

3. For any 3 texts, describe how they could be interlinked in various ways. Describe in point form the nature of the links (eg informational role, direction/symmetry, how they could be implemented in practice)

4. For any 3 texts, consider whether they already have hypertext properties (whatever you feel hypertext is at this stage). Describe these properties (perhaps in terms of the categories you used above).

Reading items for this class

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