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Browsing vs Authoring - Introduction
An essential distinction can be made in hypermedia systems between them which have primary browsing purposes and to them with authoring purposes (Halasz, 1988). Hypermedia systems that are primarily for browsing, the information network is constructed very carefully usually from a small authoring group. These authors are usually experts in the field which the hypermedia base is to be constructed. Systems primarily for browsing are developed in order to provide end-users with a well constructed information space. They are characterised by well designed presentation, user interface and navigation tools. Tools for changing the hyperbase are less involved. An example of systems developed primarily for browsing are instructional hypermedia. In systems that are primarily for authoring, tools for constructing and updating the hyperbase are very important. Navigation aids are not so useful since end-users are at the same time authors of hypermedia network. Users have good knowledge about the structure and organisation of hypermedia network. Consequently, disorientation is a minor problem in these systems. Hypermedia systems for idea processing and document authoring are examples of systems mainly for authoring.
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