Understanding a Vision: What is Hypertext?
Hypertext Literature: Honors Mentorship Research Project
Tidewater Community College, Humanities 199-G1B Spring 1999
Sadie L. Cornell

A History

Fortunately, gaining a historical perspective of the development of this instrument is much more easily attained than defining it. The development of the hypertext medium has in essence preserved its own history by becoming that which was originally envisioned.

Science has provided the swiftest communication between individuals; it has provided a record of ideas and has enabled man to manipulate and to make extracts from that record so that knowledge evolves and endures throughout the life of the race rather than that of the individual. ("As We May Think," 1945 by Vannevar Bush)

Histories and Timelines

First computerized hypertext system demonstrated in 1968 by Douglas Englebart.

Hypertext at Brown, Brown University has played a major role in the design and development of both hypertext systems and materials.

Concept of Hypertext, The Definition of Hypertext and Its History as a Concept, George P. Landow, Professor of English and Art History, Brown University.

Memex and Beyond, research, educational, and collaborative web site integrating the historical record of and current research in hypermedia.

Historical milestones, a brief overview.

The Electronic Labyrinth, a timeline.

First hypertext conference, 1987  held at UNC, Chapel Hill.

87 Trip Report given by Jakob Nielsen,who attended the 1987 conference.

Prophecies

"As We May Think," by Vannevar Bush, Bush predicts hypertext and the Internet.

Literary Machines, by  Ted Nelson first coined the term "hypertext".

"Contrary to legend, Project Xanadu was NOT trying to create the World Wide Web. The World Wide Web is precisely what we were trying to PREVENT."

The Computers of Tomorrow, by Martin Greenberger.

Home Introduction History Literary Hypertexts Hypertext Poem  Research Notes

designed and developed by S. Cornell and D. Reiss
modified 16 June 1999 by S. Cornell