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Path: sparky!uunet!caen!nic.umass.edu!hamp.hampshire.edu!dhirmes From: dhirmes@hamp.hampshire.edu Newsgroups: alt.hypertext Subject: The Hypertext FAQ Date: 7 Jan 93 17:14:49 EDT Organization: Hampshire College Lines: 577 Message-ID: <1993Jan7.171449.1@hamp.hampshire.edu> NNTP-Posting-Host: hamp.hampshire.edu Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) File for alt.hypertext version 0.9 (ASCII) - January 1993 compiled by David Hirmes (dhirmes@hamp.hampshire.edu) hypertext versions of this FAQ will soon be available. NOTE: THIS FAQ FILE IS STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION, PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. Contents: 1.0 - Introduction 1.1 What is hypertext? What are its origins? 1.2 What is the difference between hypertext and hypermedia? 1.3 Where can I get info on hypertext on the Internet? 1.3.1 Usenet Newsgroups 1.3.2 Bitnet Lists 1.3.3 Gopher 1.3.4 FTP sites 1.4 Hypertext publishers 2.0 - Hypertext systems (ordered by platform) 2.1 MSDOS/Windows 2.2 UNIX/XWindows 2.3 Macintosh 3.0 - Selected Bibliography 3.1 Recommended 3.2 Bibliographies 3.3 Periodicals 4.0 - On-Line hypertext services/systems/projects 4.1 World Wide Web (WWW) 4.2 Wide Area Information Services (WAIS) 4.3 HYTELNET 4.4 Gopher 4.5 Project Guttenberg 5.0 - Glossary [NOT implemented in this version.] 1.0 Introduction 1.1 What is hypertext? What are its origins? The short answer: "Non-sequencial writing" see: --Bush, V. (1945) "As We May Think" Atlantic Monthly, 176/1, July, pp. 101-108. --Nelson, T.H. (1981), "Literary Machines" (self- published and electronic versions available) The long answer: The term "hypertext" eludes a simple definition. The easiest explanation might be "a non-linear grouping of linked nodes". Ted Nelson, who coined the phrase in his book "Literary Machines", called it "nonsequencial writing", and it was only later that hypertext was considered a medium limited to the computer. While the idea of a non-linear form of writing can be traced back centuries, the first model of a electronic based system which could link various blocks of text appears to be a 1945 article in the Atlantic Monthly by Vannevar Bush entitled "As We May Think". By 1945, Bush had realized that an era of information was approaching. He commented: "The summation of human experience is being expanded at a prodigious rate, [but] the means we use for threading through the consequent maze to the momentarily important item is the same as was used in the days of square-rigged ships." Bush wrote of a "memex", a conceptual machine that could store vast amounts of information, in which a user had the ability to create information "trails": links of related text and illustrations. This trail could then be stored and used for future reference. Bush believed that using this associative method of information gathering was not only practical in its own right, but was closer to the way the mind ordered information. Ted Nelson picked up on Bush's ideas in his book "Literary Machines" (1981). His ideas revolved around a system called "Xanadu" in which a user could create a "hypertext", a document consisting of linked "nodes". "A link is simply a connection between parts of text or other material. It is put in by a human. Links are made by individuals as pathways for the reader's exploration; thus they are part of the actual document, part of the writing." A node is simply a discrete unit of text, graphics, sound, or whatever. Within each node, there are links to other nodes. This is the basic structure of a hypertext. Nelson took Bush's ideas a step further with his Xanadu project-- he envisioned an entire "docuverse" of interconnected, networked hypertext; a system that would inevitably replace print publishing. But more on that concept later. The concept of "hypertext" has changed a lot since Bush and Nelson first proposed the idea. The notions of what a hypertext is and what it can and cannot do have blurred. In my opinion, all printed texts are not necessarily going to benefit by being turned into hypertext documents. Hypertext is not a panacea for information handling, nor is it going to revolutionize the way humans think and interact... There are many arguments as to the exact definition of "hypertext". When Nelson first coined the phrase he was simple referring to "nonsequencial text", which could be accomplished just as easily on paper as it could on a computer. Since then, the definition has vastly expanded to encompass a wide variety of computer-related information systems. I feel that attempting to find a definitive response to the question "What is hypertext?" is not only impossible, but unnecessary. I see hypertext as more of a set of tools, not all of which need to be implemented for the end result to be considered a "hypertext system" or "hypertext document". The tools used for an on-line card catalogue are much different than of a computerized medical tutorial or a hypertext novel. 1.2 What is the difference between hypertext and hypermedia? Both terms are nebulous, but for the most part, hypertext is the more general term. Hypermedia refers to the ability to use several "media" (text, graphics, sound, video) in a single "document" (or "presentation", etc). 1.3 Where can I get info on hypertext on the Internet? 1.3.1 Usenet Newsgroups Try these newsgroups: alt.hypertext comp.infosystems.* 1.3.2 Bitnet lists --There is a Bitnet List: The LINKS Forum is moderated. Contributions should be relevant, sound, in good taste, objective, coherent, concise, and nonrepetitious. Diversity is welcome. **PLEASE** include your name & internet From: address, especially .UUCP folks *TO CONTRIBUTE: to LINKS@ACM.ORG, with relevant, substantive "Subject:" line. Contributions will not be ACKed. *TO SUBSCRIBE: send message to LISTSERV@ACM.ORG with body "SUBSCRIBE LINKS" *TO UNSUBSCRIBE: send message to LISTSERV@ACM.ORG with body "UNSUBSCRIBE LINKS" PLEASE DO *NOT* ASK FOR SUBSCRIPTION TO LINKS@ACM.ORG!!! *REQUESTS: please to LINKS@ACM.ORG. *MODERATORS: can be reached at LINKIT@DATAMONT.IT 1.3.3 Gopher --Try using Gopher's Veronica with a keyword of "hypertext". 1.3.4 FTP sites [There are a number of FTP sites around the net that have info and programs on or about hypertext. There is no central site as of yet. Use Archie to scan for the most current information.] Host: wsmr-simtel20.army.mil pd1:<msdos.hypertext> Includes: many public domain hypertext systems and such. Note: there are several mirror sites to simtel, one is wuarchive.wustl.edu Host: iesd.auc.dk (130.225.48.4) /hypertext Includes: HyperBase, an active multiuser backend for hypertext systems written in C++. Host: irie.ais.org (141.211.206.16) /pub/hypertext Includes: a hypertext fiction for the Macintosh Host: cs.dal.ca (129.173.4.5) /pub/comp.archives/alt.hypertext Includes: the files "hypertext-standards" & "qualifiers-on-hypertext-links" Host: media-lab.media.mit.edu / Includes: the file "hypertext-dynamic-text-conference.Z" Host: wuarchive.wustl.edu (128.252.135.4) /mirrors4/macintosh/hc Includes: the files "hypertext.sit" Host: rigel.acs.oakland.edu (141.210.10.117) /pub/macintosh/hc Includes: the file "hypertextrpt31.sit" Host: plains.nodak.edu (134.129.111.64) /pub/mac/pub/hypercard/stacks Includes: the file "hypertext-workshop.hqx" Host: nexus.yorku.ca (130.63.9.66) /pub/bibliographies Includes: "hypertext-daul.bib","hypertext-harpold.bib", "hypertext-hughes.bib","hypertext2.bib". Host: cs.dal.ca (129.173.4.5) Includes: Location: /pub/comp.archives/alt.hypertext the-world-s-first-hypertext-dissertation-format Location: /pub/comp.archives/comp.fonts hypertext-based-truetype-specifications Host: flash.bellcore.com (128.96.32.20) /pub/nielsen Includes: the file "hypertextTripReport.hqx" 1.4 Hypertext publishers --Eastgate Systems (134 Main St. Watertown, MA 02172, phone: 617-924-9044) publishes a number of hypertexts (fiction and non-fiction) for the Macintosh. --The Voyager Company (1351 Pacific Coast Highway, Santa Monica, CA 90401 phone: 310-451-1383) publishes a number of "expanded books" for the Macintosh. Hypertext purists would not consider these true "hypertexts", but it's still worth while to mention. 2.0 - Hypertext systems/applications/programs [note: I've only seen and used some of these systems. To find out more about these systems, write or call the companies. All addresses and phone numbers are in the U.S. Some of this info is stolen from Philip Seyer's book, "Understanding hypertext : concepts and applications"] 2.1 MSDOS/Windows [note: many IBM-PC public domain and shareware hypertext can be found in the FTP site wsmr-simtel20.army.mil in the directory pd1:<msdos.hypertext> ] BlackMagic NTERGAID, Inc. 2490 Black Rock Turnpike, Suite 337 Fairfield, CT 06430 203-368-0632 notes: shareware, msdos. CLASS HT 1st-Class Expert Systems Inc. 526 Boston Post Road 150 East Wayland, MA 01778 508-358-7722 notes: "expert systems develoment capability" Guide Owl International 14218 NE 21st St Bellevue, WA 98007 206-747-3203 or 800-344-9737 note: $795 suggested retail. windows 3.1. HyperRez MaxThink Niel Larsen 44 Rincon Road Kensington, CA 94707 415-540-5508 bbs: 415-540-6114 notes: creates hypertexts that can go memory resident. Hyperdoc Hyperdoc Inc. 1 Almaden, Suite 620 San Jose, CA 95113 408-292-7970 FAX: 408-292-7617 notes: $995 retail. "industrial strength hypertext". HyperTIES Cognetics Corporation Charlie Kreitzberg, President 55 Princeton-Hightstown Road Princeton Jct, NJ 08550 609-799-5005 notes: robust hypertext system. HyperTSR Tab Books Blue Ridge Summit, PA 17294-0850 800-822-8138 notes: create on-line hypertexted help and go memory resident. HyperWriter NTERGAID Inc. 2490 Black Rock Turnpike, Suite 337 Fairfield, CT 06430 203-368-0632 notes: a professional, enhanced version of Black Magic. IBM LinkWay IBM Corp. Boca Raton, FL 33431 404-238-3245 notes: robust hypertext system. Ize Persoft, Inc. 465 Science Drive Madison, WI 53711 608-273-6000 Knowledge Acquisition Systems (KAS) INDUCTEL Inc. Order Dept. 18661 McCoy Ave Saratoga, CA 95070 800-367-4497 or 408-866-8016 Personal HyperBase Cogent Software 21 William J Heights Framingham, MA 01701 508-875-6553 Plus Spinnaker Software 201 Broadway 6th Fl Cambridge, MA 02139-1901 800-826-0706 FAX: 617-494-1219 notes: similar to Apple's Hypercard. Need at least a 286. Window Book Technology Box Company Inc. 56 Howard St Cambridge, MA 02139 617-576-0892 Windowcraft Windowcraft, Inc. 1000 Main Street, Acton, MA 01720 508-263-7674 notes: similar to Apple's Hypercard Xanadu Xanadu Operation Company 550 California Ave, Suite 101 Palo Alto, CA 94306 415-856-4112 notes: Ted Nelson's baby. Now under the wing of AutoDesk, Inc. 2.2 UNIX/Xwindows Hyperbole "Hyperbole is an open, efficient information browsing and management system based around a hypertext model. It is intended for everyday work on any UNIX platform supported by GNU Emacs (or Epoch from the University of Illinois or Lucid Emacs from Lucid Inc). Hyperbole allows hypertext buttons to be embedded within unstructured and structured files, mail messages and news articles. It offers intuitive mouse-based control of information display within multiple windows. It also provides point-and-click access to ftp archives, Wide-Area Information Servers (WAIS), and the World-Wide Web (WWW) hypertext system through encapsulations of software that support these protocols." Hyperbole can be found at: wilma.cs.brown.edu (128.148.31.66) /pub/hyperbole 2.3 Macintosh HyperBASIC Teknosys, Inc 3923 Coconut Palm Drive, Suite 111 Tampa, FL 33619 800-873-3494 or 813-620-3494 FAX: 813-620-4039 CompuServe: 73237,2370 notes: create XCMD for Hypercard. Guide Owl International 14218 NE 21st St Bellevue, WA 98007 206-747-3203 or 800-344-9737 Hyperbook Maker Ideaform PO Box 1540 Fairfield, IA 52556 515-472-7256 notes: prints Hypercard stacks. HyperCard Apple notes: comes with every Mac, but the new Macs come with only a "Hypercard Player" which doesn't allow hypercard stack creation. StorySpace Eastgate Systems, Inc. 134 Main Street Watertown, MA 02172 617-924-9044 notes: $215 suggested retail. SuperCard Silicon Beach Software PO Box 261430 San Diego, CA 92126 619-695-6956 notes: similar to HyperCard with more features including color and the ability to make a stack into a stand-alone application. 2.4 Other NoteCards notes: developted at the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center. Runs on Xerox Workstations under LISP. 3.0 - Selected Bibliography 3.1 Recommended Here are some books I'd recommend: Berk, Emily, ed., "Hypertext/hypermedia handbook" / New York : Intertext Publications : McGraw-Hill, c1991. xvii, 583 p. : ill. ; 24 cm. notes: pretty complete, starts with the basics and moves on to more advanced topics. Includes many case studies and large bibliography. McKnight, Cliff, "Hypertext in Context" / Cambridge University Press, 1991 notes: very well written, slim volume deals with most of the major issues of hypertext theory and design. Seyer, Philip C., "Understanding hypertext : concepts and applications" / 1st ed. Blue Ridge Summit, PA : Windcrest, c1991. xii, 263 p. : ill., maps ; 25 cm. notes: well written. Barrett, E., ed., "Text, ConText, and HyperText" / MIT Press, 1988. notes: sort of the classic. Very, um, "erudite". The sequel is "The Society of Text" (1989). 3.2. Bibliographies There are several published bibliographies of books, articles, etc., on hypertext issues that I know of: Lamb, Annette C. Emerging technologies and instruction : hypertext, hypermedia, and interactive multimedia : a selected bibliography / Englewood Cliffs, N.J. : Educational Technology Publications, c1991. 64 leaves ; 29 cm. Knee, Michael. Hypertext/Hypermedia : an annotated bibliography / New York : Greenwood Press, 1990. xv, 178 p. ; 24 cm. Texas A&M University also publishes an electronic bibliography, but I can't find it on the Internet. 3.3 Periodicals ??? 4.0 - On-Line hypertext services/systems/projects 4.1 World Wide Web (WWW) [Copied from a post by joe@athena.mit.edu (Joseph C Wang)] WHAT IS IT? ----------- World Wide Web (WWW) is a hypertext project which seeks to build a world wide network of hypertext links. There are several different browsers for this system including a simple tty interface. For a demos of the terminal browsers for WWW, telnet to the following sites: telnet info.cern.ch or telnet 128.141.201.74 (SWISS) telnet eies2.njit.edu or telnet 128.235.1.43 (USA [NJ]) telnet vms.huji.ac.il or telnet 128.139.4.3 (ISRAEL) telnet info.funet.fi or telnet 128.214.6.100 (FINLAND) Login as "www" 4.2 Wide Area Information Services (WAIS) from "Overview of WAIS" by Brewster Kahle: "The Wide Area Information Servers system is a set of products supplied by different vendors to help end-users find and retrieve information over networks. Thinking Machines, Apple Computer, and Dow Jones initially implemented such a system for use by business executives. These products are becoming more widely available from various companies." for more info FTP to quake.think.com /pub/WAIS to experience a WAIS server, you can telnet to quake.think.com and login as "wais". 4.3 Hytelnet [Copied from the WHATIS file included in the hytelnet package] HYTELNET is designed to assist you in reaching all of the INTERNET-accessible libraries, Freenets, CWISs, Library BBSs, & other information sites by Telnet. HYTELNET is designed specifically for users who access Telnet via a modem or the ethernet from an IBM compatible personal computer. HYTELNET, when loaded, is memory-resident. Once loaded hit Control + Backspace to activate the program. To leave the program temporarily hit ESC. To remove from memory hit ALT-T while in the program. Check out Archie for the closest FTP site that has HYTELNET. 4.4 Gopher [This info is copied from the gopher FAQ file] Q0: What is Gopher? A0: The Internet Gopher client/server provides a distributed information delivery system around which a world/campus-wide information system (CWIS) can readily be constructed. While providing a delivery vehicle for local information, Gopher facilitates access to other Gopher and information servers throughout the world. Q1: Where can I get gopher? A1: via anonymous ftp to boombox.micro.umn.edu. Look in the directory /pub/gopher Q2: What do I need to access gopher? A2: You will need a gopher "client" program that runs on your local PC or workstation There are clients for the following systems. The directory following the name is the location of the client on the anonymous ftp site boombox.micro.umn.edu (134.84.132.2) in the directory /pub/gopher. Unix Curses & Emacs : /pub/gopher/Unix/gopher1.02.tar.Z Xwindows : /pub/gopher/Unix/xgopher1.1a.tar.Z Macintosh Hypercard : /pub/gopher/Mac_client/ Macintosh Application : /pub/gopher/Mac_client/ DOS w/Clarkson Driver : /pub/gopher/PC_client/ NeXTstep : /pub/gopher/NeXT/ VM/CMS : /pub/gopher/Rice_CMS/ or /pub/gopher/Vienna_CMS/ VMS : /pub/gopher/VMS/ There are also a number of public telnet login sites available. The University of Minnesota operates one on the machine "consultant.micro.umn.edu" (134.84.132.4) See Q3 for more information about this. It is recommended that you run the client software instead of logging into the public telnet login sites. A client uses the custom features of the local machine (mouse, scroll bars, etc.) A local client is also faster. Q3: Where are there publicly available logins for gopher. A3: Here is a short list, use the site closest to you to minimize network lag. Hostname IP# Login Area ------------------------- --------------- ------ ------------- consultant.micro.umn.edu 134.84.132.4 gopher North America gopher.uiuc.edu 128.174.33.160 gopher North America gopher.uwp.edu 131.210.1.4 gopher North America panda.uiowa.edu 128.255.40.201 panda North America info.anu.edu.au 150.203.84.20 info Australia gopher.chalmers.se 129.16.221.40 gopher Sweden It is recommended that you run the client software instead of logging into the public telnet login sites. A client uses the custom features of the local machine (mouse, scroll bars, etc.) A local client is also faster. [For more info on Gopher, see the Usenet newsgroup infosystems.gopher. The full text of the FAQ can be obtained there.] 4.5 Project Guttenberg Project Guttenberg scans in non-copyrightten books and creates ASCII files out of them. For more information contact Michael Hart (HART@vmd.cso.uiuc.EDU). I believe at least some of the electronic books (Etexts) are on Sim-tel pd1:<msdos.books> [End of alt.hypertext FAQ version 1.0 (Jan1993).]