Location: Hypertext Review / User Interface Issues / Summary Site Map

4 Summary

In a true hypertext system, users must be able to move freely through the system according to their needs, without getting lost either spatially or cognitively. The facilities to navigate through a hypertext database must be at least as rich as those available in books. Some of the designs currently available to navigate through hypertext were reviewed in this chapter. Usability issues and evaluation criteria were discussed. When the initial excitement about hypertext dies down and systems become more common, better navigation techniques and more systematic evaluation measures will emerge both from developers and users. This will be based on the organizational setting, the targeted task domain, the typical user population, and the desired outcomes of navigation.