A commentary on Frank Halasz's "Reflections on NoteCards: Seven Issues for the Next Generation of Hypertext Systems"

ABSTRACT

Although hypertext research and development didn't continue exactly in the directions that Frank Halasz predicted in 1988 and 1991, much of his analysis and agenda is still valid. The most interesting development is the shift away from hypertext systems as applications software to either embedded functionality or information structuring. The focus on standards and protocols has led to progress on Halasz's issues and has made hypertext almost universal. On the other hand, the ubiquity of hypertext on the Web is a force that works against some of Halasz's agenda. It is difficult to tailor or extend a hypertext because the task requires knowledge of the tools, the information structures, and the content.

REFERENCES

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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

          Nouns: World Wide Web (WWW)
  H.5 INFORMATION INTERFACES AND PRESENTATION (I.7)
      H.5.2 User Interfaces (D.2.2, H.1.2, I.3.6)

General Terms:
Design

Keywords:
World-Wide Web, content, hypertext/hypermedia, protocols, standards, structures, systems