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User Interface Issues - Introduction

The promise of hypertext lies in its ability to produce complex, richly connected and cross-referenced bodies of information. However, it can also become a complex system of tangled webs, confusing both authors and readers. According to Conklin, disorientation and cognitive overhead are the two most challenging problems related to hypertext. He feels that these two problems "may ultimately limit the usefulness of hypertext." [Conklin, 1987].

All hypertext systems provide the basic capability of following a uni-directional link to a target node. However, the true potential of hypertext cannot be realized by this approach alone. Considerable amount of research efforts are underway in universities and the computer industry to develop better tools and methods to exploit the full potential of hypertext and also to solve or minimize the problems of disorientation and cognitive overhead.

In a true hypertext system, users must be able to move freely through the system according to their needs, without getting lost either spatially or cognitively. The facilities to navigate through a hypertext database must be at least as rich as those available in books. When the initial excitement about hypertext dies down and systems become more common, better navigation techniques and more systematic evaluation measures will emerge both from developers and users. This will be based on the organizational setting, the targeted task domain, the typical user population, and the desired outcomes of navigation.


Hypermedia structures and systems assignment by Mark de Haas (0481832)