Definitions

Although we will use these definitions for the Fall 1999 Hypermedia Tutorial, future sections of this tutorial (or related classes) should plan to develop their own definitions.

As we've seen in our explorations of the literature of hypertext, there are many differences in those definitions. We've also found that many of the definitions are implicit, rather than explicit. For example, Bolter often speaks about ``electronic text'' and we've interpreted some of those definitions as being about hypertext.

We've found questions in our definitions, including:

• Can hypertexts can be closed (with a fixed content), or must be open and unending?
• Must hypertexts permit readers to add their own links or nodes, or does the ability for readers to select their own paths sufficient?
• What form do nodes and links take? Must they be concrete? Can links be implicit (if someone sees an association, then one is there)? Can nodes be simply ``ideas''?
• What role does ``quality'' play in our definition? Must a hypertext have clear links that yield in expected ways?
• What do we mean by ``reader empowerment''?
• Is there a difference in our expectations of hypertextual fiction and hypertextual nonfiction?

So that our discussions in tutorial do not end up degrading to differences in terminology, we will use a consistent set of terminology for the remainder of the semester. This is my attempt to summarize what we've decided. Let me know if you have additions or corrections.

Hypertext

A method of structuring information in which the information is segmented into small pieces (also called nodes, chunks, and lexia) which are explicitly linked together.

A Hypertext

A collection of nodes and links.

Self-Contained Hypertext

A hypertext in which all the links are to other nodes within the same hypertext.

Open-Ended Hypertext

A hypertext in which some of the links are outside of the hypertext, which presumably allows the reader to continue following links ad-infinitem.

Contributory Hypertext

A hypertext in which the reader may add new links and nodes.

Idealized Hypertext

Hypertext as reality. An unending set of links between things: concrete objects, abstract ideas, links, anything. A link ``appears'' whenever someone associates two things.

Hyperfiction

A self-contained hypertext whose content is primarily fictional.