Investigating the use of interactive hypermedia systems

There have been innumerable glowing reports of the way hypermedia systems allow users to explore and use vast amounts of information in ways not possible using traditional information systems, such as books or libraries. However, these reports are often based on anecdotal data or data collected in small contrived experimental settings. There are several reasons for this lack of strong research evidence on hypermedia use including the relatively recent development of such systems. More substantive difficulties arise from the very characteristics which make hypermedia systems so powerful and versatile. In addition, hypermedia systems are "enabling" technologies and for this reason any investigation of their use is also an investigation of interactions between at least four sets of factors: features of the users, the tasks they are doing, the content in the system and the tools provided by the system. It is suggested that more complete understanding of the use of hypermedia sys...

• Type: Conference
• Year: 1994
• Where: IFIP
• Authors: Peter Evans II
• Keywords: Hypermedia Systems, IFIP 1994, Interaction Log Data, Programming Languages, Way Hypermedia Systems