Authoring Hypertext
Writing hyperdocuments is a lot more difficult than writing text,
because the author must make sure the reader is able to absorb the
information in the text as well as in the structure of the hyperdocument,
without encountering the difficulties described in the
section on navigation.
Apart from writing hypertext there is a whole research area devoted to
the conversion of text into hypertext.
We describe authoring tools for this
conversion and for the creation of new hypertextual material
a number.
The oldest hypertext system which emphasized the importance of authoring
was the Symbolics Document Examiner,
which had a special authoring environment:
Concordia.
Shneiderman and Kearsley [SK89] give the
following nine considerations for writing hypertext (beyond the usual
concerns of good writing, such as the use of simple sentences,
active voice, and no unnecessary jargon):
- Chunking: The information needs to be
organized into small "chunks"
that deal with one topic, theme, or idea.
(Each chunk represents a node in the hyperdocument.)
- Interrelationships: Each document should contain links to
other documents. Each link should serve a clear purpose.
- Consistency of document names: It is important to keep a
list of names of nodes as they are created,
in order to easily identify links as they are created.
Synonyms are encouraged as long as they are kept track of.
- Master reference list: Create a master reference list (while
writing) to ensure correct citations and to prevent redundant or missing
citations.
- Simplicity in traversal: Navigation should be simple,
intuitive, and consistent throughout the system.
- Screen design: Screens should be designed so they can be
grasped perceptually.
Visual layout is very important in screen design.
- Low cognitive load: Minimize the burden on the user's
short-term memory. Do not require the user to
remember things from one screen to another.
- Early reviews: Subject the hyperdocument to technical, legal
and management reviews as early as possible. As the hyperdocument grows
changes become more difficult to make.
- Maintain multiple perspectives: When authoring, try to
balance the technical requirements of the system with the user's perspective
and the organizational use of the hyperdocument.
Authoring can sometimes not be distinguished from reading.
Many hypertexts are used for sharing messages and documents between a
group of users.
Such a hypertext is written and read by a group of users simultaneously.
Such cooperative authoring requires special
environments. Otherwise the users could suffer from disorientation
when the information space changes behind their back
because of the activities of other users.
Authoring in the World Wide Web
or similar distributed hypertext systems requires special care,
both in terms of performance and of user-comfort.
In order to create Web-pages that are appealing to a wide audience,
knowledge of HTML
is not sufficient.
The author must also master the creation of
clickable images,
forms and the use of
Dynamic HTML.
To verify whether you know enough about authoring (a topic which is very
important for completing the assignment) you must complete the
test on authoring hypertext.