Emily's Reflection
Exploring the Potential of Hypertext

As I reflect on the events that led to and from our 1997 CCCC session, I am drawn to speculations about future attempts to experiment with hypertext.

In my opinion, we have made some progress in understanding the ways in which hypertext can be used for information delivery, and we are just beginning to explore the possibilities for hypertext poetics. As the software for developing and displaying hypertextual thinking becomes more sophisticated, and as we arrive at a deeper understanding of the associative processes that define hypertextual thought and experience, we may be able to better articulate the links that form the basis for hypertext construction. In the meantime, however, the sophisticated Reflections text and the simple HyperCard efforts of students like Lisa stand as humble precursors to works which will be featured in future journals and electronic galleries.

The CCCC session was just another attempt to explore the potential of hypertext. In keeping with the organization's search for more interactive forums for conference discussion, it was our hope that the open invitation to explore our text would lead to more audience participation and a greater freeplay of ideas. The session did not turn out as planned for reasons discussed elsewhere. Perhaps if we had controlled the mouse and systematically called for choices from individual participants, the audience would have moved further into the text. Nevertheless, I think a modified form of the presentation process would be worth trying again.