Journal 7 - Van Williamson

I would argue that the one of the key features behind a hypertext (at least for someone who has spent as much time with digital media as I have) is that it doesn’t require a lot of considerations and is designed with the computer person’s consciousness in mind. A hypertext might not even need to be “read” in a linear fashion like most other forms of writing do, because it addresses the reader on several different fronts at once. While books and other texts linked to the world of academia often require a large amount of context to be understood to some capacity. Gallagher addresses this in his discussion about interfaces, arguing that the UI of a website is capable of at least partially delivering the context necessary to comprehend a hypertext. An interface suggests the circumstances surrounding the hypertext subconsciously, so that users can easily differentiate between a news article and someone’s opinionated blog post (although the line has been blurring more and more lately). 

One thing that I think is always considered, regardless of what the interface suggests, is the author. It’s very easy to parody or even make fake versions of anything with an interface. People used to be fooled by articles from The Onion and it was hilarious to watch the commenters getting stirred up like a bee’s nest built inside an A/C unit. Slowly, people (even the so-called tech-illiterate ones) learned to check the URL below the article title and these embarrassing began to disappear. When someone doesn’t know the genuine author of a hypertext, they let their emotions (read: confirmation bias) determine whether they believe it or not. This is where Wikipedia adds digital ethos to its format, by using citations and hyperlinks to additional readings in order to build trust between the nonprofit site and online readers. 

This “interface trust” we develop can be turned against us still, even if we keep adapting to the new digital environment. The most malicious malware sites will steal the UI of the Windows Explorer software, then modify it to make users think their whole filesystem is loaded with viruses. The only way to fix it, according to what victims believe is the authoritative voice of the Windows operating system, is to install their protective software to remove the “viruses.” This can all be avoided if the reader gets a general idea of who the real author is for this kind of hypertext, but sometimes the UI answers the question before we get to ask it. Then you’re stuck trying to get that Nigerian prince to send over your cut of the funds, since you so graciously gave him your SSN to make the transfer as easy as possible. :(

Shannon Herlihy - Journal Reflection #7

The world as we know it has been vastly shaped by the inner workings of the internet and its readily available content. In a way, we have swapped out print texts for online media—a faster, more hyper-realistic method of receiving news and information. For example, almost all online news sources—anything from CNN to The Atlantic to the arguably questionable Facebook—have evolved their presentation of written material into new age “hypertexts.” Overall, Neal explains the purpose of hypertexts to revolve around the nonlinear spreading of information, or a text that is defined by its connectivity to other texts (mainly as a way to enhance its own argument).

Honestly, I can’t remember the last time I read digital material that wasn’t a hypertext. Almost all social networks are built around the entire idea of producing hypertexts in order to link individuals to other news stories and vice versa. Most of the news articles I read link me to YouTube videos, embedded social media posts, or even other articles to further their point. Even the publication I intern for, Study Breaks Magazine, encourages the use of producing hypertexts. Writers are instructed to provide multiple hyperlinks within a piece in place of the usual citation in order to connect readers to original sources or further information to strengthen his/her personal argument.

When reading a hypertext, you must consider the implications of opening all further links and connections provided. A well-written source of information can be read in full without forcing the reader to turn to the links provided to fully understand the piece, however, I do believe that such connections can not only enhance the writer’s argument, but can also make him/her more reliable and the information more enjoyable to read.

For example, I just recently read a review of a newly released and long awaited series reboot riddled with hyperlinks to other reviews, cast interviews, and trailer videos. I diligently clicked on every link and quickly found myself enjoying all of the extra information, easily convinced that the connections made to other sources by the original text made my reading experience more enjoyable and provided me with much more knowledge and information than it could have granted alone.

Journal 7-- Chelsi Chang

There are a few things one has to consider when reading a hypertext, the most obvious being that it will not function in the same way as a print technology. While print technology must provide all of the details to a reader, hyper text can simply add the link to that information. Authors can write under the pretense that readers know just about anything and then connect readers to the information to help them get up to speed on information. Also, much like Neal mentions, hypertexts do not necessarily have to be read in any specific order. For example, when I read an article in the New York Times and they are discussing a court case that I have never heard of, they may link me to a completely different article in the Times so I, the reader, can fully understand what they are talking about. However, when I choose to read that linked article is completely up to me; I can elect to click the link and read it right away or I can wait until I am done with the first article to read the second. In this way, the author must make a decision in how they choose to continue writing their information once they provide the information. It also gives the author a lot of authority on how readers get additional background information for their story. Will they provide a link to a story with a lot of political bias, an editorial, a balanced story? Those decisions completely fall into the hands of the author that provides the connection to new information. Finally, it allows authors to "represent the connections they see in their work." By adding someone else's work or maybe even a previous work of your own, you are infinitely connecting your work to something else. These two works be connected to one another on the Internet forever. It adds another leg to the web of an author's prose and associates a different piece to their own. It adds a new dynamic that cannot be simply overlooked. All of these elements work together collectively to contribute to the whole. 

Journal Reflection #7

“According to George Landow (1997), hypertext is defined broadly as ‘an information medium that links verbal and nonverbal information’.” Neal goes on to further define hypertexts, saying that they can be distinguished from hypermedia in that they are set apart in terms of their connectivity. When reading a hypertext, it is important to consider the fact that the style, organization, and conventions of the writing may not require the reader to progress through from beginning to end. Hypertext “invites multiple paths and options often in more obvious ways”. While a print text may rely on chronological progression, hypertexts are different in that it could be possible to skip to the end of the selection and avoid losing cohesive comprehension and understanding. Using the example of ePortfolios, it can be said that hypertexts provide an adequate means of making connections (between a writer’s goals and his or her current abilities, feedback and revision, etc.), therefore, a reader should consider when perusing a hypertext what relationships are being evaluated and addressed within the work. Neal, for example, encourages his students to reflect on their work and make personal evaluations based on what they think they could improve upon, what they liked, what they found difficult, etc. In his essay, Neal writes, “While not a substantive component in the content of student writing, hypertext can allow students to represent the connections they see in their work.” When reading a hypertext, a reader should look out for these connections brought about by thoughtful reflection and apply it to the whole in order to objectively view the writer’s progression. He continues, “…hypertext in writing assessment can help students communicate what they are learning to themselves and to an audience of educators as well as show how they view their work within larger contexts.” A reader of a hypertext should finally consider the author’s writing from a big picture perspective, allowing broader understanding and application.

Journal Reflection #7-Jenna Kelley

A hypertext is generally a text that if you click on it online, it leads you to various other pages with more information. This information can be more texts, more visuals, or even audio files. A kind of consideration that you have to make for reading a hypertext is to understand if the hypertext makes sense to be added within the context. In other words, did the author have the correct intent of adding the hypertext? Was the information added, necessary to being added to the context of the message? Also, the author needs to make sure that the hypertext is fact checked. You would not want to add false information to your text. Fact checking goes hand-in-hand with updating your information in the hypertext. You have to make sure the information you are linking the hypertext to is current so that the audience knows that it is a reliable text.

Another thing to consider is if the text is handwritten or online. Utilizing a hypertext online is easy because all you need to do is click on the text and it can bring you to another page for more information on the topic. For a printed text and an online text, the author can post a graph or visual directly on the page in order to provide more information. The only difference is that on a printed text, you cannot post a link, because the audience, obviously, are unable to click on that link.

An author also needs to understand that the individual reading the text is able to access the hypertext. The author needs to understand the technology being used for the text. For example, in my public speaking class, we have an online textbook. This textbook includes many different videos for all of the students to watch for each chapter. I would be unable to view this hypertext if I did not have a computer and was only able to order a physical textbook. The hypertext and quiz links are part of what make this class hard for users who do not have a computer, because without viewing the videos, you would be unable to take the quizzes. Furthermore, all of access, fact checking, updating, and conceptual knowledge are all things to take into consideration when adding a hypertext.

Journal 7 Carly Gillingham

Hypertexts are a very unique, new form of text, for which one must take into account a number of considerations. When reading in a hypertext, it is important first and foremost to consider the intent of the author. What exigence are they trying to create? Who is their audience, and what steps are they taking to address them specifically? In a hypertext, one of the most common considerations taken by the author is coherence. Because hypertexts include links to other texts, they exist as the audience’s gateway to all other media that the author intends them to see. So, it is important to acknowledge the relationships that the author has established between the hypertext and the other texts, as well as between the different links contained within the hypertext.

Another consideration that one must make for reading in a hypertext is access. Technology, especially a device like a laptop or phone, is necessary to access a hypertext. Additionally, the text may utilize videos or audio, so the reader should make sure that they are able to use these features before fully accessing the hypertext.

Visual features of the hypertext should also be taken into consideration. Whatever the purpose of the hypertext, it may incorporate very specific visual aspects. For instance, the text may use flashy visuals, or more muted ones; it may also use many or few images. An online portfolio for a photographer, for instance, would use a large number of images, whereas one for a young business professional would use few.

Journal 12/6

When working with hypertexts it’s important to realize that the author composed the texts with an understanding that someone reading it would have access to the technology that the text is composed in. This may seem silly but with a “standard” text written on paper, the author can only be certain that a reader will have the book, magazine, newspaper, etc. that the text was printed in. With a hypertext, the author knows that their readers are using an integrated device like a tablet or home computer with access to other information through the internet. As such the author may rely on things not accessible by a printed media to further their point. For example, a blogger might include a link to a video that contains crucial prerequisite information for the argument they make in this week’s update. Within a printed media, the author would need to summarize the point of the video in a paragraph prior to the main argument yet here the source material can be linked immediately with no paraphrasing. This means that a hypertext can rely more heavily upon outside knowledge as the reader has access to any amount of information that exists about a topic that isn’t included in the specific text. As such it becomes the reader’s responsibility to make sure they are informed enough to understand the situation an argument takes place in. This is an important consideration when talking about remediation, remix, or assemblage of hypertexts as a change in medium would then almost necessarily require a larger amount of exposition if the new medium is not a device with internet access.

Another consideration when reading a hypertext is updating. A physically printed text cannot be updated without another edition of the text being printed. A hypertext can be updated on the same day it was published with a few easy button clicks. With this in mind, it is important to look for indications of updates made to a hypertext such as footnotes that mark new information. For example, online news articles will often not change the body of the article if information is shown to be different than originally reported but will instead attach updates to the end of the article that corrects mistakes and updates with new information. Because this isn’t apparent at the beginning of the article, it is important to looks for these updates before “digesting” the material in the article because somethings may have changed.