Topic: hypertext as unstructured information

Summary

Hypertext links are like gotos in programs. Hypertext is largely unstructured with links between pages and blocks of text. Many sites have a hierarchical organization, but free form links dominate.

Although a Web page may be composed from many sources, it appears to the user as a single file. Is this the right organization for information? (cbb 3/07)

Subtopic: hypertext as gotos

Quote: Hypertext is links (i.e., goto's) and some hierarchy -- too unstructured [»vandA7_1988]

Quote: after several links in Hypertext have no relationship to starting point [»maneS6_1987]

Quote: Hypertext links are gotos -- so documents will be hard to maintain [»browPJ11_1987]

Subtopic: information not files

Quote: the information world should be without files; i.e., interconnections, multiple versions, and multiple views are easily visible [»nelsTH12_1986]

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