ALPS (A Language for Process Specification) - a definition language for hypertext trails

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2000

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Thomas, B.

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Information Services and Use, 2000; 20(4):169-187

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Abstract

This paper proposes using ALPS to specify a new hypertext trail to an existing hypertext document. In Vannevar Bush's first Hypertext system memex, Bush envisioned memex as having the ability for a user to define a trail in an information space. A trail is a predefined sub-net of an information space. A trail can be used at a later date, be passed on to another user, or be added to existing trails. If trails are to be realised, there needs to be a system independent method of describing them. Trails have two basic primitives, information nodes and links between nodes. Current Hypertext systems provide proprietary linear trail definitions, but a more general definition is needed which includes such features as: sequencing, parallelism, branching, and synchronization. Two examples are provided to highlight the flexibility and power of using ALPS as an external information space specification language.

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Copyright 2000 Sage Publications

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