If there’s anything I’ve learned so far from hypertext, it’s that the promotion of simplicity is rather complicated, particularly as simplicity isn’t an idea learnt institutionally.

The two hopes of simplifying our lives and making information accessible is indeed a distant hope. Whimsical as it may seem, Nelson addresses his hopes preceding multiple systems and discussions that both preserve and network connections, reflecting disorder to be cumulative and no longer prohibited. It is a lot of jargon, but, alike his thoughts on hopes that frantically demand attention, there is a universal medium, that being an open hypertext network. Fundamentally, this idea depends on systems and the amount of information being processed (like in the Xanadu system), creating a Crystal Palace of demand that can be called on from anywhere at anytime.

While the structure of this flow of information is yet to become unconditionally simple and accessible (that is, data becoming simultaneously organised and shared), the term of information becoming a public respiratory system of pictures, text, multimedia and any other data is something to think about, especially in terms of the interrelationships we hold with technology so far. Yes, the reading addresses print literacy and publishing systems, but I agree with Nelson, there is a lack of urgency surrounding information access and what it could mean for humankind. To crystallise a system and the rebirth of literacy that could connect and be accessible by every single individual regardless of background, well, it would bring both modern richness and universal freedom. It’s a very exciting concept.