"Communication in an Internet Culture" is more than just an HTML essay or an extralinear essay. Delcamp has chunked his research essay into roughly eight lexias. The hypertext includes external links as well. Navigation down the left margin (as seen in the screen capture below) helps the user retain a sense of familiarity across the hypertext.

While not enforcing linearity, the stable placement of a vertical navigation system in the left margin has all the markers of a standard print outline. This approach encourages the user to follow Delcamp's links from top to bottom.

One of Delcamp's fascinating experiments involved the inclusion of a bulletin board on the site. Visitors were encouraged to explore the hypertext and submit responses to a series of questions about their attitudes about "communication in an internet culture."

While no one responded to Delcamp's queries while this project was under development, the possibilities were very intriguing. Had users entered the bulletin board it would have made possible an iterative reflection on users' views, followed by users' reflections on Delcamp's interpretation on their views, and so on.

Copyright © Enculturation 2002

Navigate Enculturation:
Home | Contents 4:2 | Editors | Issues
About | Submissions | Subscribe | Copyright | Review | Links