Dis[appearances]: Representational Strategies and Operational Needs in Codexspace and Screenspace

Abstract

The transition from book to screen requires careful and analytical comparison. The structure of the book cannot be simply translated to the space of the screen without consideration of new spatial practices afforded by hypermedia architecture. Unlike the book which appears whole and physically delimited, hypermedia embraces a realm of disappearances where issues of form and navigation undergo redefinition. By asking what concepts are shared by digital and printed document alike we are led to an investigation of possible models for understanding their differences and exploring the implications of the digital document as a textscape.