Where does the theory end and reality begin, and how far do they overlap? Obviously it depends upon the subject area; some areas have been covered with more critical and comprehensive approaches than others have. However, it is fair to say that across the board, there are very few sites that manage to combine good design, interesting content, comprehensive context, and a nice balance between analysis, primary documentation and hypertext. Truly embracing hypertext seems to be very difficult for people, not exclusively historians, who write historical material for the web. Whether this has something to do with fragile egos not wanting to give up authorial authority or whether this is due to a certain level or technological fear or incompetence, it is unclear. For whatever reasons, the fact remains that there is a large disparity between the theory and actuality of hypertext and the web.

Next:
 

Theories of Hypertext

History and Hypertext: the role of the narrative

Hpertext: the Paradigm Shift

History and Technology

CNN

PBS

Hyper-media

Conclusions

Footnotes