HypermediaHypermedia

Cognitive Science 2006Cognitive Science 2006Desereah Esquivel Desereah Esquivel

Morgan GrantMorgan GrantPaige BurkhamPaige Burkham

Hypermedia Hypermedia Hypermedia:A term used as a logical extension of Hypermedia:A term used as a logical extension of

the term hypertext, in which audio, video, plain the term hypertext, in which audio, video, plain text, and non-linear hyperlinks intertwine to text, and non-linear hyperlinks intertwine to create a generally non-linear medium of create a generally non-linear medium of information. information.

This contrasts with multimedia, which, although This contrasts with multimedia, which, although often capable of random access in terms of the often capable of random access in terms of the physical medium, is essentially linear in nature. physical medium, is essentially linear in nature.

The difference should also be noted with The difference should also be noted with hypergraphics or super-writing which is a Lettrist hypergraphics or super-writing which is a Lettrist form from the 1950s which systemizes creativity form from the 1950s which systemizes creativity across disciplines.across disciplines.

Hypermedia (cont.)Hypermedia (cont.)

The World Wide Web is a classic example The World Wide Web is a classic example of hypermedia, whereas a movie on a DVD of hypermedia, whereas a movie on a DVD is an example of standard multimedia. The is an example of standard multimedia. The lines between the two can (and often do) lines between the two can (and often do) blur depending on how a particular blur depending on how a particular technological medium is implemented.technological medium is implemented.

The first hypermedia system was the The first hypermedia system was the Aspen Movie Map.Aspen Movie Map.

(compliments of (compliments of http://http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypermediaen.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypermedia))

HypertextHypertext In computing, hypertext is a user interface In computing, hypertext is a user interface

paradigm for displaying documents which, paradigm for displaying documents which, according to an early definition (Nelson according to an early definition (Nelson 1970), "branch or perform on request." 1970), "branch or perform on request."

The most frequently discussed form of The most frequently discussed form of hypertext document contains automated hypertext document contains automated cross-references to other documents cross-references to other documents called hyperlinks. called hyperlinks.

Selecting a hyperlink causes the computer Selecting a hyperlink causes the computer to display the linked document within a to display the linked document within a very short period of time.very short period of time.

Hypertext (cont.)Hypertext (cont.) A document can be static (prepared and stored in advance) A document can be static (prepared and stored in advance)

or dynamically generated (in response to user input). A or dynamically generated (in response to user input). A well-constructed hypertext system can encompass, well-constructed hypertext system can encompass, incorporate or supersede many other user interface incorporate or supersede many other user interface paradigms like menus and command lines, and can be used paradigms like menus and command lines, and can be used to access both static collections of cross-referenced to access both static collections of cross-referenced documents and interactive applications. documents and interactive applications.

The documents and applications can be local or can come The documents and applications can be local or can come from anywhere with the assistance of a computer network from anywhere with the assistance of a computer network like the Internet. like the Internet.

The most famous implementation of hypertext is the World The most famous implementation of hypertext is the World Wide Web.Wide Web.

The term "hypertext" is often used where the term The term "hypertext" is often used where the term hypermedia would be more appropriate.hypermedia would be more appropriate.

Components of HypertextComponents of Hypertext

NodesNodes CompositesComposites Link AnchorLink Anchor Link Markers Link Markers Links Links

Subfields of HypertextSubfields of Hypertext

Adaptive hypertext- employ a user model to customize Adaptive hypertext- employ a user model to customize node content and filter the available link set.  Adaptive node content and filter the available link set.  Adaptive hypertext systems try to guide users towards interesting hypertext systems try to guide users towards interesting and relevant information and shield them from irrelevant and relevant information and shield them from irrelevant informationinformation

Hypertext design- concerns analysis and design Hypertext design- concerns analysis and design methodologies for creating hypertext systems.  Hypertext methodologies for creating hypertext systems.  Hypertext design differs from standard design techniques due to its design differs from standard design techniques due to its emphasis on links as first class objects and navigation.emphasis on links as first class objects and navigation.

Evaluation- techniques that judge the ability for users to Evaluation- techniques that judge the ability for users to navigate effectively within a hypertext web and remain navigate effectively within a hypertext web and remain oriented when jumping into the web at randomoriented when jumping into the web at random

Subfields of Hypertext (cont.)Subfields of Hypertext (cont.) Writing- authors of this literature work in a non-Writing- authors of this literature work in a non-

linear creativity space in which they design not linear creativity space in which they design not only content, but also link structure, structual only content, but also link structure, structual features and navigation.features and navigation.

Hypertext functionality- group that studies Hypertext functionality- group that studies techniques for applying hypertext constructs and techniques for applying hypertext constructs and features to the everyday, non-hypertext features to the everyday, non-hypertext applications found in business, engineering and applications found in business, engineering and personal applications.personal applications.

Open hypertext systems and standards- group Open hypertext systems and standards- group that studies ways for different hypertext systems that studies ways for different hypertext systems to coordinate information and services over the to coordinate information and services over the internet.internet.

Advantages of HypermediaAdvantages of Hypermedia The ability to quickly follow associations and look up The ability to quickly follow associations and look up

related material. References can be traced both back-related material. References can be traced both back-wards and forward in a way which can be difficult and wards and forward in a way which can be difficult and time consuming with printed media. time consuming with printed media.

The user can annotate the material and create new The user can annotate the material and create new references. Information can also be structured in a references. Information can also be structured in a variety of ways. Multiple organizations of the same variety of ways. Multiple organizations of the same material allow for specialized structures for different material allow for specialized structures for different user categories. user categories.

Hypermedia has a strong potential for learning Hypermedia has a strong potential for learning applications since learning by exploration might be applications since learning by exploration might be facilitated in a natural way. The student can browse facilitated in a natural way. The student can browse the material and find new information as she explores the material and find new information as she explores a subject area. Concepts encountered can trigger new a subject area. Concepts encountered can trigger new ideas, and chains of associations can be followed in a ideas, and chains of associations can be followed in a convenient manner convenient manner

Advantages of Hypermedia Advantages of Hypermedia (cont.)(cont.)

Ease of browsing might increase the risk that the learner Ease of browsing might increase the risk that the learner skips through the material much to hasty, and thus get a skips through the material much to hasty, and thus get a shallow and fragmented conception of the subject. shallow and fragmented conception of the subject.

The risk of getting disoriented can result in confusion rather The risk of getting disoriented can result in confusion rather than understanding, especially if the user jumps around than understanding, especially if the user jumps around between different nodes in a more or less random manner. between different nodes in a more or less random manner.

Using a hypermedia system involves a certain cognitive Using a hypermedia system involves a certain cognitive overhead. The problems is that the user has to interact with overhead. The problems is that the user has to interact with the system in order to accomplish anything, which can be the system in order to accomplish anything, which can be more or less complex. The author of a research paper, for more or less complex. The author of a research paper, for example, might suddenly want to make an note on a new example, might suddenly want to make an note on a new idea which she comes to think of. If this is complicated and idea which she comes to think of. If this is complicated and requires many steps it is possible to loose track of the idea requires many steps it is possible to loose track of the idea and partly forget it.and partly forget it.

The risk the one loses track of what one was writing in the The risk the one loses track of what one was writing in the first place. first place.

http://www.ida.liu.se/~mikki/comics/lic/chap2.htmhttp://www.ida.liu.se/~mikki/comics/lic/chap2.htm

WidgetsWidgets

A graphical interface component that A graphical interface component that a computer user interacts with, such a computer user interacts with, such as a window or a text box. as a window or a text box.

Sometimes qualified as Sometimes qualified as virtualvirtual to to distinguish them from their physical distinguish them from their physical counterparts, e.g. counterparts, e.g. virtualvirtual buttons buttons that can be clicked with a mouse that can be clicked with a mouse cursor, vs. physical buttons that can cursor, vs. physical buttons that can be pressed with a finger. be pressed with a finger.

CyberspaceCyberspace

"Cyberspace. A consensual "Cyberspace. A consensual hallucination... A graphic hallucination... A graphic representation of data abstracted representation of data abstracted from the banks of every computer in from the banks of every computer in the human system. Unthinkable the human system. Unthinkable complexity."complexity."

Cyberspace (cont.)Cyberspace (cont.) Cyberspace can be thought of as a very large, Cyberspace can be thought of as a very large,

distributed, and visualized hyper-media structure. distributed, and visualized hyper-media structure. Cyberspace can be conceived as an independent Cyberspace can be conceived as an independent realm, a shared virtual environment whose realm, a shared virtual environment whose inhabitants, objects, and spaces are data, but data inhabitants, objects, and spaces are data, but data which is visualized, heard, and perhaps touched. which is visualized, heard, and perhaps touched. William Gibson describes cyberspace as a computer William Gibson describes cyberspace as a computer generated hallucination of a gigantic, world-wide generated hallucination of a gigantic, world-wide network of databases: network of databases:

The virtually unlimited size of cyberspace and the The virtually unlimited size of cyberspace and the heavy use of visualization techniques makes it heavy use of visualization techniques makes it interesting with respect to orientation. Like in a virtual interesting with respect to orientation. Like in a virtual world, it is important to give the user a feeling for how world, it is important to give the user a feeling for how large the world is, where she is, and where she can go large the world is, where she is, and where she can go form the current location. Maps could be a helpful tool form the current location. Maps could be a helpful tool for navigating cyberspace.for navigating cyberspace.