THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF HYPERTEXT

THE ADVANTAGES

According to Conklin in Hartoyo (2012: 11), There are 9 advantages of hypertext that

can be summarized as follows:

1. Easy of tracing references.

The machine support for link tracing means all references are equally

easy to follow forward to their references are equally easy to follow

forward to their references;

2. Easy of creating new references.

Here the users can create their own network, or simply annotate someone

elses document with a comment but without changing the referenced

document.

3. Information structuring.

Both hierarchical and non hierarchical organization can be imposed on

unstructured information; even multiple hierarchies can organize the

material;

4. Global views.

The browser provide table of contents style views supporting easier

restructuring of a large or complex document; global and local views (node

or page) can be mixed effectively.

5. Customized document.
 The text segment can be threaded together, allowing the same document

to serve multi functions.

6. Modularity of Information.

Since the same text segment can be referenced from several places,

ideas can be expressed with less overlap and duplication.

7. Consistency of information.

References are embedded in their text, and if text is moved, even to

another document, the link information still provides direct access to the

references.

8. Task stacking.

The user is supported in having several paths of inquiry active and

displayed on the screen at the same time, so that any given path can be

unwound to the original task;

9. Collaboration

Several author can collaborate, with the document and commands about

the document being tightly interwoven. (the exploration of this feature has

just begun).

THE DISADVANTAGES:

There is a problem that may rise in using of hypertext:

1. Disoriented.Due to the complexity of hypertext structures, the users might

have difficulties in understanding where they are and in deciding where to go

next. The hypertext system, therefore, needs to provide a clear access

structure and means for recovery to help the users through interactive

information-seeking activities. In other words, hypertext should offer a

supportive environment in which the users can access and retrieve

information, find their own paths while browsing and navigating, and expand

webs of information without getting lost in working through it.(Conklin, 1987in

Hartoyo, 2012).