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Managing Software Projects in Spatial Hypertext : Experiences in Dogfooding. Frank Shipman Department of Computer Science & Center for the Study of Digital Libraries Texas A&M University. What is Spatial Hypertext?. Hypertext but spatial … so what is hypertext?
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Managing Software Projects in Spatial Hypertext : Experiences in Dogfooding Frank Shipman Department of Computer Science & Center for the Study of Digital Libraries Texas A&M University
What is Spatial Hypertext? • Hypertext but spatial … so what is hypertext? • Hypertext (or hypermedia) is: • systems that present the same text (media) in multiple contexts • systems that enable the communication of relationships between documents
Page-Based Hypertext The field of hypertext includes computer scientists, literary theorists, and writers. The first ACM Hypertext Conference took place in 1987 … Frank Shipman Dr. Shipman has been researching hypertext, computer-supported cooperative work, and intelligent user interfaces since 1987 at Baylor College of Medicine, University of Colorado, Xerox PARC, and now Texas A&M University. Texas A&M University, located in College Station, has 43,000 students …
Map-Based Hypertext • Observations of Xerox NoteCards activities found heavy use of maps. • Aquanet designed to make the map the primary interface (instead of browser) • Late 80s – map-based hypertext • gIBIS, Aquanet, Sepia • Argumentation and knowledge building • Schemas as map legends
Map-Based Hypertext intelligent user interfaces Frank Shipman computer-supported cooperative work hypertext Xerox PARC Texas A&M University First ACM Hypertext Conference University of Colorado Baylor College of Medicine College Station
Spatial Hypertext • Observations of Aquanet activities showed links implied rather than explicitly expressed. • VIKI designed to support building and manipulating implicit spatial relations • 1993 – first spatial hypertext • VIKI: a visual and kinesthetic analysis tool • Emerged into research area: • HyperMap, CAOS, Manufactur, VKB, Tinderbox, ART, …
Spatial Hypertext computer-supported cooperative work Frank Shipman Frank Shipman hypertext Xerox PARC intelligent user interfaces University of Colorado hypertext Baylor College of Medicine Texas A&M University First ACM Hypertext Conference Texas A&M University College Station
1st Generation Spatial Hypertext • Support evolving interpretation through emergent visual languages • Recognition of visual structure to aid expression • Common tasks • Information collection, organization, and sharing (personal & collaborative) • Process of information triage
2nd Generation Spatial Hypertext • Support for longer-term and larger-scale tasks • Navigable history • Links between spatial hypertexts • Support for presentation-oriented spatial hypertexts • Greater visual expressiveness, additional media • Spatial hypertext via http servers
Reflections: Why? • Research software • Continual redesign based on interests • Success means evaluation prototypes • Real success keeps project alive forever • Well matched to spatial hypertext • Allows continual evolution of ideas • No strict schedule to formalize • Informal group structure and interactions
Reflections: Why Not? • System limitations: • Continuous structures not recognized • History too low level for some uses • Applicability issues: • Single space will not scale • Not right for automating reports • How unique is research software?
Summary • Spatial hypertext enables emergent expression • Evolving visual languages • Analysis and organization tasks • Features of spatial hypertexts • Implicit structure recognition • Navigable history, links through space and time • Publication-oriented spatial hypertexts • Use in project management for developing research software • Good for continual redesign & reconceptualization • Poor for more demanding processes
Resources on Spatial Hypertext • Many papers in ACM Digital Library • Workshops on Spatial Hypertext • www.csdl.tamu.edu/~shipman/SpatialHypertext • VKB updates available at: • www.csdl.tamu.edu/VKB/