Hypertext University of Stellenbosch

I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I intended to be. Douglas Adams

The two texts on the HyLL site are still relevant: A checklist for Evaluating Content-Based Hypertext Computer Software (Tolhurst) What is good hypertext? (Kussler & Van der Merwe)

Navigation : links Site links Appear on every page of a site. Allow users access to main areas of site without having to return to home page. Page links Page-specific links that relate to content of a page. Users are given direct access to page-level information. Example: Mr William Shakespeare & the InternetMr William Shakespeare & the Internet

Hyperlinks The ability to link documents is one of the advantages of putting information on the Web. Misuse of links probably most common failure of Web authors. Effective links supplement narrative by: Supplying background Reinforcing concepts Adding detail. But …

Poor hyperlinks Disrupt narrative flow in following ways: Visual distraction Disruption of narrative Lack of context

Effective links: placement Links draw attention because of their contrast with surrounding text. Links lead elsewhere & thus disrupt flow of information. Location: If linked page supplement your content, place them at bottom of page. Else supply a separate annotated “Links” page. Colour: If links appear in body of text, use a custom link colour similar to colour of body text.

Effective links: maintain context Annotation Explain relevance of linked material on your page so that user knows in advance where they are going & why you are sending them there. Secondary window Open related sites in a second browser window. Ensure that the user knows that they are in another window. Supply a “close window” button if possible. Never open someone else’s site in a frame of your own.

Exploring hypertext Look at the way in which the following sites have used links: Nietzsche Chronicle Kairos: A Journal for Teachers of Writing in Webbed Environments A Teacher's Guide to the Holocaust Blue Web'n Learning Sites Library A Celebration of Women Writers

And if you need help … Maybe hyperlinks won’t give you the answer!

References Horton, Sarah Web teaching Guide A Practical Approach to Creating Course Web Sites Yale University Press Lynch, P & Horton, S 2002 Web Style Guide Basic Design Principles for Creating Web Sites Yale University Press