Where's the hypertext: The Dickens Web as a system-independent hypertext

Abstract

This paper reports the comparative evaluations by fifteen experienced hypertext users of three hypertext systems (Intermedia, Interleaf WorldView, and Storyspace) to carry out both simple information retrieval and more complex cognitive tasks. In contrast to, approaches that compare hypertext versions of print documents to print documents, our research began with materials originally created for an electronic environment—the award-winning Dickens Web. The evaluators’ detailed narratives, which show that hypertext documents can exist independently of specific hypertext systems, also suggest points that designers of hypertext systems and hypertext authors must take into account. These points include the value of fulltext search vs. link following, and the importance of content expertise. Finally, we report on the importance of singlevs. hi-directional thinking, multiple linking from a single point, and web views.