[329] in Public-Access_Computer_Systems_Forum
Print vs Electronic Information
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Jim Harrington)
Tue May 26 12:25:15 1992
Date: Tue, 26 May 1992 11:20:23 CDT
Reply-To: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <PACS-L%UHUPVM1.BITNET@RICEVM1.RICE.EDU>
From: Jim Harrington <EXTXAABE%UCF1VM.BITNET@RICEVM1.RICE.EDU>
To: Multiple recipients of list PACS-L <PACS-L%UHUPVM1.BITNET@RICEVM1.RICE.EDU>
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
Previously, Bill Drew said:
HYPERTEXT is fine but only puts you where the writer thinks you should go
not where the reader necessarily wants to go. That is the biggest
problem with many hypertext products currently available.
-------------------------------------------
Bill has pointed out one of the biggest challenges to authoring hypertext
documents. A good hypertext document should be written from both the
author's and reader's point of view. Not an easy task. Of course, the
scope of the document depends on its purpose. For instance, if it is
taking the place of a classroom lecture, the author is going to lead
the student just as would happen in the classroom. Hopefully, there
is additional information provided which the student can access
if she so chooses.
As to Bill's complaint about not being able to go where one *wants* to
go, any librarian knows that the the library user (as with the reader
of a hypertext document) doesn't always *need* to go where she thinks
she *wants* to go.
Jim Harrington
Libarian
Valencia Community College
Orlando, FL
