Hypertext

Overview When most people think of hypertext, the World Wide Web is what comes to mind. However, the development of hypertext preceded the modern day Web by decades. Hypertext documents, HTML, and hyperlinks on the Internet are just a few uses of the possible applications of hypertext. For a definition of hypertext, visit Webopedia's online dictionary of computer terms. Excellent hypertext resources can be found by going to www.eastgate.com/Hypertext.html. 

History Most people credit Vannevar Bush with the first description of hypertext-like capability. It was described in his 1945 article entitled, "As We May Think". His system, called Memex, was based on then current microfilm technology. Visit this link for more information about Bush and his work. In 1960, Ted Nelson invented computer-based hypertext and the term “hypertext” for a term project while a graduate student at Harvard. He had a vision of a global hypertext system, which he called the Xanadu system. Ted Nelson's professional home page with information about his current work on hypertext is at ted.hyperland.com.  

Douglas Engelbart, after reading Bush's article, developed the first implementation of hypertext at the Stanford Research Institute in the early part of the 1960's. Today it is known as NLS or On-Line System. This work influenced the development of Xerox's PARC which, in turn, influenced the creation of Apple personal computers and later, the World Wide Web. Read about Engelbart and his work by following this link.   

If you are looking for a more general history of hypertext, view this time line of the development and history of hypertext. Portions of an interview with Ted Nelson can be accessed at www.ics.uci.edu/~ejw/csr/nelson_pg.html. From this site, follow the link to a full, digital voice copy of the interview.

 HTML, or hypertext markup language, is the programming language used to create Web pages and sites. HTML uses "tags" to allow Web designers to create, format, and link information on the World Wide Web. HTML takes advantage of hypertext by allowing the use of hyperlinks. Hyperlinks give users a one-way electronic link (or links) to addressed content on the Web. Additional information about HTML can be accessed at www.w3.org/MarkUp.

The newest adaptation of HTML is XML, or extensible markup language. XML allows access to both the content and the structure of data written with XML. In other words, XML allows for information to be analyzed by the content that is labeled by its tags. This allows for more “intelligent” hyperlinks. For further information about XML, see this W3.org page. 

Xanadu is the name of Ted Nelson's original hypertext project that started in the 1960's. Work on Xanadu continues today. His original ideas about hypertext are a radical departure from today's use of hypertext as Nelson envisioned hypertext as highly organized, two-way links with copyright protection on the information transferred across these links. Experts currently working on this project are unsure about when Xanadu will be ready for release to the public. But, they are optimistic regarding its eventual release. Information about Xanadu  is available at xanadu.com. 

Hypermedia and Hyper Fiction Hypermedia is the use of graphics, sound, and video for linking to and from information on the Web. This is a rapidly developing field due to the proliferation of powerful, multimedia personal computers and fast Internet connections. Another aspect of hypermedia is “hyperart”. In hyperart, artists attempt to create art communally rather than individually. Read about hyperart at www.work.de/cgi-bin/HypArt.sh. You can find out more about hypermedia at www.hrc.wmin.ac.uk. 

Hyper fiction is a method of writing fiction that uses links within the text to link to additional related information, and to alternate endings and storylines. It also allows for collaboration between authors. To learn more about hyper fiction visit www.duke.edu/~mshumate/hyperfic.html.