Lost and Disoriented Readers

Hypertext developers must combat readers losing track of where they are or where they have been. By the nature of hypertext documents, it is, of course, very easy to end up with lost and disoriented readers. Hypertext offers endless possibilities for exploration; however, it also offers endless possibilities to get lost. There is always the possibility that readers become so sidetracked with ancillary information that they lose interest in or even lose track of where they began. In addition, there are going to be readers who want a more linear approach, or may be looking for a specific piece of information, and want to move directly and easily to it.

People read hypertext documents in a different way from how they read traditional paper documents. In a hypertext environment people "skim, scan, and skip about a lot more than they do in a book" (Horton, 96:320). These different reading styles create an important challenge to the hypertext author: organization. Maintaining the balance between control and using hypertext format to its full capabilities takes careful planning. To reduce the problems associated with readers getting lost in a maze of information, it is important to remember that there are guidelines for hypertext writing, which deal with some basic writing elements: style, content, and audience.

The screen lacks the crisp, sharp edges of ink on paper.

William Horton