Other Spaces for Spatial Hypertext

Authors

  • David Kolb Bates College

Abstract

Spatial hypertext programs typically display a portion of a larger flat space in which items can be arranged, grouped, and manipulated. In terms of an old philosophical dispute, the space of spatial hypertext is a Newtonian absolute space rather than the Leibnizian relational space created by web pages and other node-and-link hypertexts. After discussing this difference, this essay proposes other spaces, including topologically complex spaces and an Aristotelian space that is polarized and oriented. These offer new possibilities for information triage and meaningful spatial configurations.

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Published

2009-07-29