Context-based navigation in the Web by means of dynamically generated guided tours

A key advantage of hypermedia systems such as the Web is that the user is able to navigate through the information space in a non-linear fashion. He can explore the interlinked documents according to his own interests and insights, instead of being confined to the rigid, linear structure of e.g. pages in a book. A downside, however, is that this navigational freedom entails the risk of disorientation, especially in a gigantic hypertext such as the Web. This paper presents a context-based navigation paradigm for the Web and reconciles navigational freedom with a measure of linear guidance to prevent the user from becoming disoriented. For that purpose, "conventional" navigation along static links is complemented by run-time generated guided tours, which are derived dynamically from the context of a user's information requirements.

• Type: Journal
• Year: 2002
• Where: CN
• Authors: Wilfried Lemahieu
• Keywords: CN 2002, Context-based Navigation Paradigm, Key Advantage, Navigational Freedom