Firstly, I had no idea that the word “hypertext” even existed back in 1987. In fact, I was not sure what it was exactly up until a few weeks ago. It appears that the idea of hypermediacy (experiencing several different forms of media at once), as explored in semester two of my first year at RMIT University, was developed in the late 80s and early 90s. This transition period was perhaps the most influential and exponential in terms of growth for different types of media such as videodiscs.
The reading I am making reference to is titled Literary Machines by Theodor Holm Nelson. The basic gist of what he is saying is that he “coined the term “hypertext” over 20 years ago”. Therefore he essentially predicted the Internet and the revolution that it would create, claiming that it would be “the wave of the future, the next stage of civilisation, the next stage of literature,” and much more.
He then continues, starting to sound more and more like a crazy man (which is not hard considering that he maintains and pushes that he came up with the hypertext idea). Nelson then starts explaining what he actually means in terms of hypertext, and explains it literally as a series of interactive pages that branch out to other pages – much like what is happening on the Internet right now, it is probably how you found my blog.
A controversial point is brought up in my mind when going through this set reading. Does this mean that computers and the ways in which devices and the online world works have improved our lives? I remember having debates with my parents about this topic several times in the past, but now that I am actually exploring theorists and their ideas, I will most definitely be undefeated upon returning home to Hong Kong for the holidays.
In a sense of efficiency, business, and entertainment, I would say for the most part that the ways of the Internet and online devices have most definitely improved our lives. For example, as mentioned in the reading, people are not at the mercy of insanely tall stacks of paper containing notes that may or may not be useful – you just don’t throw them away in fear of losing something by accident. Nowadays, all we need to do is type what we need onto a device that fits perfectly in our pocket and click “save”.
You want to access some information? Watch a video? Find an image or song? Have no fear, the Internet is here! Smartphones have arguably become the most recent technological breakthrough. Almost everyone can now access the Internet on their phone and at a cheap price. Any questions you may be pondering at an awkward time with no computer around, you can simply whip out your phone and punch it in instantly.
An argument I have heard all too many times (especially from my mother), is that people have become too engrossed with their phones. As I have lived in Hong Kong my whole life, I can confidently say that the vast majority of people in public are magically glued to their screens. Not only is this cult-like behaviour disturbing, it appears to be negatively affecting our everyday physical communication. Maybe it’s a culture clash between myself and the Hong Kong community, although I find that a terribly weak retort as I have lived my whole life in Hong Kong and have adopted a Hong Kong culture myself. Maybe it is acceptable to be on the phone constantly during a family meal, having to ask people to repeat what they were saying as I was just messaging a friend, or attempting to get a new score on Flappy Bird (great game). I, like many others I am sure, am guilty of this “offence”. I do check my phone during meals, but I am not constantly finding the need to use it. For example, I will reply to a message if I received it first, I will not be the first to initiate a discussion myself during such a time unless it is extremely urgent. You know you have a problem when tables upon tables of people are occupied by “friends” who spend 80% of the meal-time checking their electronic devices (I am not joking, I have seen a woman with her phone, iPad, and Dongle out on the table once).
Despite this apparent overuse of the Internet and online devices, I believe that we have advanced in so many ways thanks to the ability to connect with one another in this vast online web, and to share each other’s knowledge. People are able to connect with others from all around the world in a much simpler way, and a lot of what we know comes from how the theory of hypertext has extended the capabilities of the Internet far beyond what was initially expected. Therefore, in a way, you could say that we are intact communicating more now than ever.