This paper presents the Dexter hypertext reference model. The Dexter model is an attempt to capture, both formally and informally, the important abstractions found in a wide range of existing and future hypertext systems. The goal of the model is to provide a principled basis for comparing systems as well as for developing interchange and interoperability standards. The model is divided into three layers. The storage layer describes the network of nodes and links that is the essence of hypertext. The runtime layer describes mechanisms supporting the user’s interaction with the hypertext. The within-component layer covers the content and structures within hypertext nodes. The focus of the model is on the storage layer as well as on the mechanisms of anchoring and presentation specification that form the interfaces between the storage layer and the within-component and runtime layers, respectively. The model is formalized in the specification language Z, a specification language based on set theory. The paper briefly discusses the issues involved in comparing the characteristics of existing systems against the model.

The Dexter hypertext reference model

NoteCards, developed by a team at Xerox PARC, was designed to support the task of transforming a chaotic collection of unrelated thoughts into an integrated, orderly interpretation of ideas and their interconnections. This article presents NoteCards as a foil against which to explore some of the major limitations of the current generation of hypermedia systems, and characterizes the issues that must be addressed in designing the next generation systems.

Reflections on NoteCards: seven issues for the next generation of hypermedia systems

Hypermedia application design di ers from other software design in that it involves navigation as well as user-interface and information processing issues. We present the Relationship Management Data model (RMDM) and the Relationship Management (RMM) methodology for the design and development of hypermedia applications. The seven steps of the methodology lend themselves to computer support, paving the way for a computerized environment to support the design and development of hypermedia applications. This article focuses on design activities, which are addressed within the rst three steps of the methodology.

RMM: a methodology for structured hypermedia design

An information distribution and processing system contains a remote site, a sender and a receiving apparatus. The remote site contains a first set of digital data. The sender delivers a second set of digital data to the receiving device. In one embodiment of the present invention, the receiving device contain a timing device for automatically receiving the second set of digital data at predetermined times. The second set of digital data contains a first set of displayable data, a second set of displayable data, at least one non-displayable symbol, and at least one linking reference associated with the second set of displayable data. If desired, a user can select the second set of displayable data. The associated linking reference is sent to the remote site. The associated linking reference is used by the remote site to search for the additional information, and returns the requested information to the user.

Information distribution and processing system

Hypertext development should benefit from a systematic, structured development, especially in the case of large and complex applications. A structured approach to hypertext development suggests the notion of authoring-in-the-large. Authoring-in-the-large allows the description of overall classes of information elements and navigational structures of complex applications without much concern with implementation details, and in a system-independent manner. The paper presents HDM (Hypertext Design Model), a first step towards defining a general purpose model for authoring-in-the-large. Some of the most innovative features of HDM are: the notion of perspective; the identification of different categories of links (structural links, application links, and perspective links) with different representational roles; the distinction between hyperbase and access structures; and the possibility of easily integrating the structure of a hypertext application with its browsing semantics. HDM can be used in different manners: as a modeling device or as an implementation device. As a modeling device, it supports producing high level specifications of existing or to-be-developed applications. As an implementation device, it is the basis for designing tools that directly support application development. One of the central advantages of HDM in the design and practical construction of hypertext applications is that the definition of a significant number of links can be derived automatically from a conceptual-design level description. Examples of usage of HDM are also included.

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HDM—a model-based approach to hypertext application design

Developers of hypermedia systems face many design issues. The design for KMS, a large-scale hypermedia system for collaborative work, seeks improved user productivity through simplicity of the conceptual data model.

KMS: a distributed hypermedia system for managing knowledge in organizations

KMS is a commercial hypermedia system developed by Knowledge Systems for networks of heterogeneous workstations. It is designed to support organization-wide collaboration for a broad range of applications, such as electronic publishing, software engineering, project management, computer-aided design and on-line documentation. KMS is a successor to the ZOG system developed at Carnegie Mellon University from 1972 to 1985.A KMS database consists of screen-sized WYSIWYG workspaces called frames that contain text, graphics and image items. Single items in frames can be linked to other frames. They may also be used to invoke programs. The database can be distributed across an indefinite number of file servers and be as large as available disk space permits. Independently developed KMS databases can be linked together.The KMS user interface uses an extreme form of direct manipulation. A single browser/editor is used to traverse the database and manipulate its contents. Over 85% of the user's interaction is direct—a single point-and-click designates both object and operation. Running on Sun and Apollo workstations, KMS accesses and displays frames in less than one second, on average.This paper describes KMS and how it addresses a number of hypermedia design issues.

Our aim in this paper is to examine how hypertext can be used in an organization like a law firm, instead of focusing on hypertext technology per se. We first give an overview of Reed Smith and its Intellectual Property group: what the attorneys do, what conditions they work under, and how their information management needs might be supported by hypertext. We then describe the HyperLex project--the underlying hypertext system, our current structure for the hypertext database, some specific applications we are building, and our scenario for expanding the use of hypertext within the Intellectual Property group and possibly into the rest of the firm. We conclude with a list of some hypertext design issues that we feel hypertext developers could address to better support this application area.

Using hypertext in a law firm

KIVIS: A DISTRIBUTED HYPERMEDIA SYSTEM FOR MANAGING KNOWLEDGE IN ORGANIZATIONS Developers of hypermedia systems face many design issues. The design for KMS, a large-scale hypermedia system for collaborative work, seeks improzjed user productivity through simplicity of the conceptual data model.

Elise A. Yoder

Papers

KMS: a distributed hypermedia system for managing knowledge in organizations

KMS: a distributed hypermedia system for managing knowledge in organizations

Using hypertext in a law firm

KIVIS: A DISTRIBUTED HYPERMEDIA SYSTEM FOR MANAGING KNOWLEDGE IN ORGANIZATIONS Developers of hypermedia systems face many design issues. The design for KMS, a large-scale hypermedia system for collaborative work, seeks improzjed user productivity through simplicity of the conceptual data model.