TITLE: Book metaphor - friend or foe? An online information system that combines hypertext and book-based navigation

AUTHORS(s) & AFFILIATION(s): John Russell, Oracle Corporation, USA

KEYWORD(s): book metaphor, documentation

PRESENTER / CONTACT PERSON: John Russell

CONTACT EMAIL: john.russell@oracle.com

ABSTRACT:

Online information systems often fall into one of two camps: online books, and hypertext webs. This paper presents an approach that combines the best of both worlds: book-structured information rich in author-defined metadata, and hypertext navigation offering direct access to information.

The paper examines the conventions used in printed documentation, and discusses how each helps or hinders online presentation. For example:

•  Situations where book titles and groupings are useful or misleading to readers.
•  The considerations for search granularity and HTML file size.
•  What aspects of book structure can be de-emphasized or hidden for online display.
•  How analysis of book structure can yield important metadata that can be used in the navigation system.
•  How a dynamic hypertext system can offer personalized information in book-like format

Throughout, the paper draws examples from an online navigation system produced from 100+ books.

Last modified October 28, 2001 by Scott Tilley.