Memex (1945)

Parent Level

[Aspects of Hypermedia]
[Hypermedia shortcomings]
[History of Hypermedia]
[Hypermedia Systems]
[Hypermedia applications]
[Hypermedia and Learning]

Current level

[Memex (1945)]
[Augment/NLS (1962-1976)]
[Xanadu (1965)]

Child Level

 

 

 

Contents in Current Page:

  1. Memex - Introduction

 


Memex - Introduction

Vannevar Bush, president's Roosevelt's science advisor, is credited with first describing hypertext concept (Bush, 1945). Bush's vision for hypertext could be described as an effort to mechanise scientific literature. In his proposed Memex, he introduced the idea of a machine which can use links to establish connections between documents. This Memex contained a very large library of documents, sketches, personal notes. Microfilms and photocells technology were described to store information. Bush did not anticipated computer technology power, although  he recognised that many technological breakthroughs would be needed to make Memex reality. Memex has never been developed as a real system, but Bush's ideas influenced 20 years later other pioneers of hypertext, when started the  development of first generation hypertext systems.

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