Hypertext

“Hypertext is electronically connected, non-sequential information that branches, thus allowing multiple choices for the reader.” Whereas paper books follow linear textuality, hypertext allows the user to browse through related topics, regardless of the order in which they are presented in. toc

HISTORY
The term hypertext was invented in 1965 by Ted Nelson. When it was invented, it referred to an interlinked system of texts where a user could jump from one text to another. This connection between texts is made possible through hyperlinks. A hyperlink is a word, symbol, or image in a hypertext document that is linked to another hypertext document.

Apple introduced hypertextuality as a regular feature of computer systems in 1987. Hypercard was a program which provided links that allowed navigation among files of computer print text and graphics by clicking key words or icons. Nowadays hypertextuality is primarily used in relation to the Internet. The concept of hypertext is representative of the postmodern condition as it allows multiple pathways on the internet instead of simply one set, linear path.

**USES**
Hypertext is a format for presenting text and images, which forms the basis of the World Wide Web, that allows viewers to move from one text, page or website to another through hyperlinks. This means that any web site can have a number of links to other sites, to audio, video and other graphics. The importance of this format is that it allows for web users to move laterally through a significant amouny of material that is linked. Hypertext links allow the user to browse the web easily and move from across various pages and images. A handy online guide that is in-depth to writing effective hypertext can be found [|here]. For a 10-minute guide to quickly learning about HTML click [|here]. Both guides are provided by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).

=**HTML**= stands for "Hypertext Markup Language". It is a computer text language which presents graphics and and text on the World Wide Web. It is formatted to be viewed on any type of operating system through a Web browser. HTML can be created through tools such as plain text editors like Notepad or Text Edit, typing coding in by hand or through more advanced ways such as WYSIWYG tools. Content is structured into hyperlinks, lists, headings and paragraphs through the use of markup tags. An example is to indicate the start of a heading and to indicate the ending of a heading in a document.

To view how a web page is html coded, this can be done simply by clicking on the "View" Menu the choosing "Source" or "View Source". Here is an example of what HTML looks like: <!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/loose.dtd"> // replace with your document's title //

//replace with your document's content//

//

//**HTTP**//
//stands for "hypertext transfer protocol" (http). When placing http:// infront of a Web address, files can be sent across the internet.


 * REFERENCES**

Cartwright, Lisa and Marita Sturken. Practices of Looking: An introduction to Visual Culture. New York: Oxford, 2001 pp. 138, 253, 337

Danesi, Marcel. __Understanding Media Semiotics__. New York: Arnold, 2002.

Delagrange, Susan. __Hypertexuality__. 1997.Ohio State University. February 21st, 2006. < http://people.cohums.ohio-state.edu/ulman1/courses/E883C/E883C_SP97/Research/delagrange/hypertxt.htm >.

Ferrera, Gerald R. "Cyberlaw: Text and Cases, 2e" Canada: Thomson, South Western West, 2004, p. 6.

“Hyperlink.” Encarta World English Dictionary. Seattle: Microsoft Corporation, 2004.

Raggett, Dave. "Getting started with HTML" World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), online at: [|].