Page 30 - DCAP303_MULTIMEDIA_SYSTEMS

Multimedia Systems

notes Web-like structures
In the web-like structure any node can be linked to any other. There are no rules—although
designers must take great care in deciding which links will be most helpful to users. Relatively
few web-like websites and non-web hypertexts are built. This is because many subject areas
seem to break naturally into a hierarchical structure, and users are apt to have trouble navigating
unsystematic structures. Many web-like hypertexts are short stories and other works of fiction,
in which artistic considerations may over ride the desire for efficient navigation.
Chains and Multipath structures

As noted earlier, content linked as a linear sequence of nodes—a simple chain structure—probably
does not qualify as hypertext because the user’s choice is highly restricted. Linear sequences,
however, are regularly included within a hierarchical websites, often taking the form of a tutorial,
demo or tour.

As shown in Figure 2.1, it is possible to build a sequence of nodes that is in large part linear but
offers various alternative pathways. This is the multipath structure. Often we find multipath
sections within hierarchical websites. For example, a corporate website might include a
historical section with a page for each decade of the company’s existence. Each of these pages
has optional digressions that allows the user to explore events and issues of that decade.
Another example of the multipath structure is an instructional CD-ROM in which learners
are offered different pathways through the subject matter, depending on their interests or
mastery of the material.
2.4.4 node-link Diagrams, sketches and the Design process

Since they show the overall structure of a website, web developers often create node-link
diagrams as part of the design process. Some web authoring tools create these diagrams
automatically. Using both node-link diagrams and mock-ups of web pages, designers can
effectively plan out how the site as a whole should be linked and how to design the linking
of individual pages.
Figure 2.2 shows both a node-link diagram of a small website and a mock-up of a web page of
that same website. (The mocked-up page is represented by the darkened node in the node-link
diagram.) On the mock-up, the four buttons on the navigation bar correspond to the four second-
level nodes in the node-link diagram. The three links below the navigation bar correspond to
this page’s three child nodes. As the mockup shows, the designer intends to use highlighting
(“Support”) to indicate the currently displayed page.
When web pages are well designed, the placement of the links on the page along with the
phrasing of the links enables the user to grasp, at least in part, the overall site structure, the user’s
current location, and whether the user is moving down, across, or up in the hierarchy.

Many websites provide site maps for users. Although site maps differ greatly in appearance and
usefulness, they resemble node-link diagrams in which they provide the user with a bird’s eye
view of the site structure.
2.4.5 future Developments

Computing and the web will continue to evolve in a great many ways. Monitors may give way
to near-eye displays, at least for mobile computing. Virtual reality may become more widespread
and may be routinely incorporated into the web. We may make greater use of voice commands
and commands issued by hand gestures.

These and other advancements will surely change hypertext and hypermedia. For example,
websites may provide much improved site maps consisting of a 3D view of the site structure,

24 LoveLy professionaL University