The idea to write this node came up today while I was reading another node about pi. The nodes all had many references to other nodes that all seemed very intriguing to me at the time. I wasn't sure if I should continue reading the current node, or delve into one of these more interesting side nodes.

The problem lies in how to read hypertext. Do we read in a linear manner first, then go back to the references we like, or do we go with our thought processes and read the linked nodes and text that has caught our attention. This happens quite frequently on everything2, as well as any well linked article or document on the internet.

Hypertext was invented to facilitate a way to communicate thoughts, and ideas across a broad medium. It differs from linear text because it allows you to read in a similar manner to how you think, with interconnected thoughts and ideas. This works well when writing hypertext, but when the user finally sits down and decides to read the information, what is the best way to go about it. Sure hypertext facilitates the notion of interconnecting ideas, but when we naturally read in a linear manner, what is the best way to read hypertext?

One of the forefathers of hypertext, Ted Nelson said the following...

"By hypertext I mean non-sequential writing. Oridinary writing is sequential for two reasons. First, it grew out of speech and speech-making, which have to be sequential; and second, because books are not convenient to read except in sequence. But the structures of ideas are not sequential. They tie together every which way."

Personally I tend to read the whole node, then go back to the links. Sometimes it is possible to click a link as you read over it, and instantly start reading that material. This is a form of reading in a non-sequential manner. After reading that material, you can then return to the original. Occasionally that second level material can link to thrid level material, and you can quickly become nested other information. This is the essence of surfing the web.

I find it best to have two browser windows open at one time. The first will serve as the "original document window", and the second will become the "reference material window". This is where i will drag links over, analyze the information, and return to the original window.

Quote taken from the book "Nerds 2.0.1 A Brief History of the Internet" by Stephen Segaller. Copyright 1998,1999 Oregon Public Broadcasting. All Rights Reserved.