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Outline

The impact of hypertext on processes of reading and writing

1994, Literacy and computers

Abstract
sparkles

AI

This paper examines how hypertext technology transforms reading and writing processes, emphasizing the structural aspects of traditional text and the implications of hypertext for comprehension, creativity, and instructional methods. It discusses the potential of hypertext to alter the educational landscape by providing dynamic access to information and requiring new cognitive strategies for managing non-linear narratives. Ultimately, it highlights the necessary considerations for effective hypertext design, including user navigation and the balance between creative exploration and structured learning.

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  74. i This essay develops and extends ideas first presented at Hypertext Õ87 (Charney, ÒComprehending Non-Linear TextÓ). The research was generously supported by a Penn State Research Initiation Grant and by Tektronix Inc. I am grateful to Christine Neuwirth, Rich Carlson, and Mark Detweiler for comments on earlier versions of the manuscript. ii There is an extensive and growing literature on hypertexts. For a history and overview, see Conklin; for bibliographies, see Mitterer and Schankula or Harpold. iii For a straightforward, general introduction to cognitive psychological perspectives on memory and learning, see Bransford. Many of the issues to be raised here are also discussed by