Hypertext News
Hypertext 2007 Submissions Now Open
The Eighteenth International ACM Conference on Hypertext and Hypermedia (Hypertext 2007) is now open for submissions. Seven programmes with more than 40 designated areas are waiting for your input. They include:
- Hypertext Models & Theory
- Practical Hypertext
- Hypertext & Society
- Hypertext & The Person
- Hypertext, Culture & Communication
- Posters
- Student Research Competition
The programmes indicate many intersections with other fields of interest, not only in computer science. Decades of research and development has lifted hypertext from its esoteric existence to a higher level. It is no longer exclusively for computer geeks, but rather provides solutions potentially for everyone who deals with connecting information. (These must be quite many.) This includes people working in the fields of natural sciences, humanities, or knowledge management and covers new developments, such as social networking or Web 2.0. People who work with structures or knowledge are of interest for hypertext and hypertext is of interest for people working on structures or knowledge.
This general relevance of hypertext for various fields of interest is also expressed by this year's conference theme: Hypertext, The Web, and Beyond: Five Autonomous Programmes, One Unified Conference. It expresses the diversity in research directions we have in hypertext, but in a very positive way. Diversity means broadening our horizons, opening our eyes. It also pays attention to the broad application of hypertext technology or paradigms outside computer science. The big challenge is to connect the different ideas so that we gain from synergy. At the end, however, we unify in our common goal: providing means to people for organising their knowledge.
I am looking forward for your submission, whatever area it has its focus on.
Labels: diversity, humanities, hypertext, Hypertext 2007, knowledge management, natural sciences, submissions
posted by: Submission Chair on Monday, March 26, 2007
Humanities Honour Scheme
In the first Hypertext conference (HT87), it was highlighted that ``the Conference on Hypertext and Hypermedia brings together scholars, researchers, and practitioners from diverse disciplines to consider the form, role and impact of hypertext and hypermedia in a forum of discussion of ideas, design and use of hypertext and hypermedia in a variety of domains''. This shows that from the beginning the Hypertext conference was established as an interdisciplinary conference. I believe for better discussions and outcomes it is important to organise a conference in an international and interdisciplinary fashion. To me the former means bringing people together from different cultures and the latter means bringing people from different backgrounds and diverse disciplines. These are important features for cross-pollinating ideas; having different insights; sharing and transferring experiences; having applications in different domains; having better discussions and most importantly for producing better results. Hypertext conferences have always been among the few that have managed to be true interdisciplinary conferences. They have always brought together computer scientists, writers, sociologists, psychologists, designers, ethnographers, engineers and many others. That's why HT conferences have always been interesting and fun to attend.
In order to continue and strengthen this, this year we are introducing a new "Humanities Honour Scheme". With this scheme we would like to ensure that attendees from Humanities get as much discounts as Computer Scientists. Hence we would like to support and continue with the interdisciplinary aspect of the Hypertext conferences. We hope that this scheme will encourage researchers, artists and designers in Humanities to continue to contribute to the success of Hypertext research. This was demonstrated by the Web and hopefully Hypertext research will produce many more such successful examples. This year, as it was emphasised in HT01, HT07 ``will continue to provide a forum where attendees can exchange and discuss ideas on hypermedia, as well as its design and use in a variety of domains, while also considering the transformative power of hypermedia and its ability to potentially alter the way we read, write, argue, work, exchange information, or entertain ourselves''. See you all in Manchester!
Labels: HT07, Humanities, Hypertext 2007, Manchester, registration
posted by: Registration Chair on Monday, March 12, 2007
Inspirations for a Media Chair
When I was originally asked to design the Hypertext 2007 Website, I sought as my inspiration the works of L. S. Lowry, a 
In many ways this mirrors real life. How often have colleagues made associations between two concepts that initially seem bizarre but after some thought seem perfectly logical? Or how many times have friends suggested places to visit that you have never before considered but then upon going, wonder why you have never been before? It was one of these seemingly strange associations that led me to taking the photograph that was the basis for the picture that sits at the top of every page on this Website.
A friend was visiting from
In a similar fashion that following links and trails of thoughts in hyperspace brings us the thrill of stumbling upon new and mysterious views of knowledge, so too following the links and trails of a visiting friend brought an unexpected view of
As a native of Greater Manchester I feel that I should not only welcome you to Hypertext 2007 but also to The City. HT07 promises to be a diverse fusion of research, people and art.
Labels: HT07, Hypertext 2007, Links, Lowry, Manchester, Website Design
posted by: Media Chair on Thursday, March 01, 2007