Summary

Charney's review paper focuses on reading (understanding and comprehension) and writing hypertext. She presents the results of comparisons between hypertext and linear documents and tries to explain cognitive processes going on while reading. Main points are how users select paths through networks of text, how users decide if they comprehend something and when they stop reading. In conclusion, many people perform poor on this and that's the reason why hypertext has often no great advantage over linear text.

Best Things

Good presentation about problems of writing and reading hypertext. Useful advantages and disadvantages over linear text.

Improvements

None.

Question to Authors

Will the problems with reading and writing hypertext go away with further exposure to this medium?

Article Questions

1. Do all people have problems using hypertext? If not, who has not?

2. Do readers correctly decide if they comprehend something?

My Opinion

Good article that helps to understand better what cognitive processes are going on while reading and writing hypertext.