VIKI: Spatial Hypertext Supporting Emergent Structure
Catherine C. Marshall and Frank M. Shipman III
Xerox PARC
3333 Coyote Hill Road
Palo Alto, CA 94304
E-mail: {marshall, shipman}@parc.xerox.com
ABSTRACT
The emergent nature of structure is a crucial, but often ignored,
constraint on authoring hypertexts. VIKI is a spatial hypertext system
that supports the emergent qualities of structure and the abstractions
that guide its creation. We have found that a visual/spatial metaphor
for hypertext allows people to express the nuances of structure,
especially ambiguous, partial, or emerging structure, more
easily. VIKI supports interpretation of a collected body of materials,
a task that becomes increasingly important with the availability of
on-line information sources. The tool's data model includes
semi-structured objects, collections that provide the basis for
spatial navigation, and object composites, all of which may evolve
into types. A spatial parser supports this evolution and enhances user
interaction with changing, visually apparent organizations.
KEYWORDS: Spatial hypertext, emergent structure, interpretation,
visual structure recognition, composites.