Lecture 4-5.
Interactive Multimedia

1. Hypertext
Hypertext refers to text on a computer that is not arranged linearly or sequentially. Users do not have to follow a pre-determined path to use the information; they can jump from one topic to another at will.

Original idea of hypertext: Vannevar Bush, 1945
First conceptualisation of computer-based hypertext: Ted Nelson, 1965

2. Multimedia
Multimedia refers to a computer program which incorporates more than one type of media:
text, graphics, photographs, sound, video, 3-scenes. The program can be interactive or non-interactive.

First interactive multimedia program: "Aspen Movie Map" (MIT Media Lab, 1978-1980).

3. Interactive Multimedia (Hypermedia)
Hypermedia: hypertext + multimedia. Hypermedia is a hyperlinked program which incorporates more than type of media.

General principles of Hypermedia:
--Separation of information and links
--Links allow to jump from one place in a document to another
--The metaphor of navigation through information
--Pieces of information can reside on networked computers --
networked, or distrubuted hypermedia.
--Distributed hypermedia as the new norm for all computing.
--World Wide Web is a particular implementtaion of hypermedia.

CD-ROMS shown:

Lecture 4: introduction
Bill Seaman. (USA) The Esquisite Mechanims of Shivers." 1993.
Perry Hoberman. (USA) "The Sub-Division of the Electric Light." 1996.
Laurie Anderson with Hsin-Chien Huang (USA). 1995. "Puppet Motel."
Harwood (England). "Rehersal of Memory." 1996.

Lecture 5: few multimedia "genres"

interactive narrative
Cyan/Broderbund Software (USA) "Myst." 1993.
Inscape (USA). "The Resident's Bad Day on the Midway." 1995.
Real World Multimedia (USA). "Ceremony of Innoncence." 1997.

database
George Legrady (Hungary/Canada) "An Anecdoted Archive from the Cold War." 1994
ZKM (Center for Art and Media). "William Forsythe: Improvisation Techniques." 199).
Leon Cmielewski & Josephine Starrs (Australia), "Dream Kitchen," 2000.

alternative interfaces
Tamas Waliczky (Hungary), "Focusing." 1998.
Leon Cmielewski & Josephine Starrs (Australia), "User-Unfriendly Interface," 1996.

LINKS

required:
www.artmuseum.net -- go to Multimedia: from Wagner to Virtual Reality
www.hotwired/rgb - HotWired online gallery which presents cutting-edge Web projects. Try to go through as many projects as possible.

Continue from last week:
Beoynd Interface -- exhibition of Web art projects, Walker Art Center (1988). Try to go through as many projects as possible.

optional:
net.condition -- exhibition of Web art projects, ZKM (1999). Try to go through as many projects as possible.
Vannevar Bush, "As We May Think" (1945) -- the original vision of hypermedia.
www.altx.com - one of the best sites for hypertext literature and criticism.