Experiences with Web squirrel: my life on the information farm

ABSTRACT

Previous work has shown that spatial hypertext is a useful information management tool for dynamically changing environments where it is necessary to model emergent and volatile information structures. This paper describes several years of experience using Eastgate Systems' Web Squirrel, a spatial bookmark manager, as a member of a suite of information management tools. It works together in conjunction with word processing, database, and index generation tools to provide a rich and effective Web-based working environment. Some its contributions include: information visualization, organization, and management, the avoidance of premature linking, and creativity support.

REFERENCES

• 1: Mark Bernstein, Enactment in information farming, Proceedings of the fifth ACM conference on Hypertext, p.242-249, November 14-18, 1993, Seattle, Washington, United States [doi>10.1145/168750.168837]
• 2: Michael Joyce, Storyspace as a hypertext system for writers and readers of varying ability, Proceedings of the third annual ACM conference on Hypertext, p.381-387, December 15-18, 1991, San Antonio, Texas, United States [doi>10.1145/122974.125110]
• 3: Catherine C. Marshall , Frank M. Shipman, III , James H. Coombs, VIKI: spatial hypertext supporting emergent structure, Proceedings of the 1994 ACM European conference on Hypermedia technology, p.13-23, September 19-23, 1994, Edinburgh, Scotland [doi>10.1145/192757.192759]
• 4: Rosemary Simpson , Allen Renear , Elli Mylonas , Andries van Dam, 50 years after “As we may think”: the Brown/MIT Vannevar Bush symposium, interactions, v.3 n.2, p.47-67, March 1996 [doi>10.1145/227181.227187]
• 5: Randall H. Trigg , Peggy M. Irish, Hypertext habitats: experiences of writers in NoteCards, Proceeding of the ACM conference on Hypertext, p.89-108, November 1987, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States [doi>10.1145/317426.317435]
• 6: Web Squirrel: www.eastgate.com/squirrel/FAQ.html

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.5 INFORMATION INTERFACES AND PRESENTATION (I.7)
      H.5.4 Hypertext/Hypermedia

Additional Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.3 INFORMATION STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL
      H.3.4 Systems and Software
          Subjects: Information networks

General Terms:
Design

Keywords:
creativity, information management, premature linking, spatial hypertext, workflow integration