As we may think: the concept space and medical hypertext

Abstract

Hypertext, a medium for presenting written material in a nonsequential manner, is gaining popularity as a format for medical text. The structure of "traditional" hypertext documents (hyperdocuments) includes author-created links among text segments. This structure poses challenge for those who create and maintain hyperdocuments, while reading them can introduce disorientation and cognitive overload. An alternative model is presented in which text segments are linked to the concepts which they contain and the concepts are linked to each other in a semantic network called the "Concept Space." The concepts and semantic links attempt to approximate potential topics of interest, allowing the reader to browse the hyperdocument in an individualized manner, rather than in an author-designated one. The concept space approach offers advantages for both the author and the reader.