IMOL
99.01.31 ( d10
YES, THERE IS A FINAL.
Study materials may be found at
Ted Nelson Home Page.
Information Media 98:
HYPERTEXT:
THE CONTINUING REVOLUTION
AND THE DIFFERENT HYPERVERSES
A Course about Electronic Literature
and
Representating Ideas and Connections
Prof. Theodor Holm Nelson, Keio University and University of Southampton
To CLASS SCHEDULE.
To COURSE REQUIREMENTS.
There are many views of hypertext. Today, everyone has an opinion.
This course will present the opinions of the instructor.
WHAT IS HYPERTEXT?
TN defintion: HYPERTEXT IS A FORM OF WRITING-- Non-sequential writing,
with free user movement. There are non-sequential forms of writing which
do not allow free user movement, such as Computer-Assisted Instruction
and adventure games. These I do not consider to be hypertext.
OTHER POSSIBILITIES BESIDES THE WEB
The World Wide Web is not the only possible hypertext system for the
Internet. Unfortunatley many people have only seen the Web
WHY STUDY HYPERTEXT?
This divides into two questions, I think.
Why study Web Hypertext?
To deal with today's reality.
Why study NON-Web Hypertext?
In hopes of something better.
THE STRUCTURE AND REPRESENTATION OF IDEAS AND THOUGHT
The "TRUE STRUCTURE" concept
INTERCOMPARISON
"Thinkertoy" concept
Parallel columns in text
Comparable Versions
variorum Shakespeare
All the holy books that came from Judaism
Interpreter's Bible
Rasho-Mon (the Kurosawa film, originally a novel)
Alternative versions
A WIDE VARIETY OF HYPERTEXT SYSTEMS ========
Brown University
HyperCard
The World Wide Web
Web1 (Berners-Lee)
Web2 (Andreessen's Mosaic)
Web3 (Andreessen's Netscape)
Web4 (Anarchy)
XANADU
THE PARALLEL TEXTFACE, late 60s
The original illustrations: overall, closeup (1972).
The demo by Ian Heath
Xanadu0 = (Concept of TCL x HT)
Xanadu1 = Zipper Lists
Xanadu2 (SNP)
Xanadu3 (1970 parallel streams and ring buffers)
Enfiladic Xanadus
Xanadu4 (1972, Model T)
Xanadu5 (1974, Barus double enfilade)
Xanadu6 (88.1)
NOW AVAILABLE! Documentation for 88.1, no longer confidential
(first 15
pages, Jfax format)
Xanadu7 (92.1)
The New Open Xanadu World
Xanadu8 (OSMIC)
Xanadu9 (ZigZag)
Xanadu10 (LUSTR)
ZigZag
HyperWave
MicroCosm
History of hypertext ============================
VANNEVAR
BUSH
DOUGLAS
ENGELBART
THE WEB ASSUMPTIONS
'browser'
'pages'
1-way links
LINKS ONLY BY AUTHOR
HOW TO FIX THE WEB?
THEORY OF HYPERTEXT ======================
Is this technology? NO, IT'S THE DESIGN OF LITERATURE.
What is technology?
OPTIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES AND CHOICES.
Though tidal forces of cost and availability can have great impact.
THE STRUCTURE AND REPRESENTATION OF IDEAS
ADVENTURE GAME ASSUMPTIONS ==================
Hypertext without free movement
They/author control the sequence
Restrictions on access
PROJECT
XANADU ============================
"LINKS VERSUS TRANSCLUSIONS"-- a vital issue
DEFINING PROPERTIES
multiple links to each unit
connections between things which are the same have special status
Xanadu History Scroll
"How is Xanadu different from the Web?"
HTML vs Xu
The 1970 design
Enfiladics, 1972-92
Relation of HTML to Xu -- PRACTICALLY NONE
Original 1970 tag method