Hypermedia and ITS Duarte Costa Pereira!, Armando de Oliveira 2 and Jose Carlos G. Vaz 3 'Universidade do Porto, 2Universidade de Aveiro, 3Projecto Minerva (Univcrsidadc do Porto), Portugal Abstract: ITS research is likely to represent the most important means for optimizing the interface ergonomy of hypermedia, particularly in learning situations and regarding mainly three points. First, the cognitive model of the user, which is related to the activity of exploring hypermedia documents. Second, the analysis of the preferences and search strategies of each user as well as the nature and level of the information processed, will lead to hypermedia in which the user diagnostic module must itself be intelligent or, in other words, be capable oflearning. Finally, the system should be able to determine preferential paths for learning in order to direct the student-users. 1. Hypertext/hypermedia problems For any instructional design (either computer aided or conventional) we consider that the essential characteristics are to be interactive and attractive. The increasing of the systems interactivity as well as the interface u·ansparency allows for a greater participation of the user in the design of informatic applications, and even for an easier access to the information that microcomputers, in general, can save in large quantities. The appeareance of modem hypertexts makes it easier to reach these goals. Hypertext is associated to systems where users have access to large quantities of information using flexible and intuitive paths. This is not the way one manipulates traditional databases that, in general, use formal access systems, and force the user to possess a certain prior knowledge about the material saved, as well as about the way to use databases. The modern hypertext concept is based on a computer-supported information environment. This is done through a cross- referenced system, that links discrete elements in a data base, so users can explore the information in any direction. One can name the following kind of hypertext documents (Garrett et a!., 1986): Single author - single reader (ideas organizer), Single author - many readers (informative or tutorial hypertext), Many authors - many readers (collaborative hypertext). A hypertext document extends the text dimensions so one can say that it possesses three significative components: a) a text database, b) a semantic network that relates text database components, and c) tools that allow to create and explore this combination of text and semantic network. It is also important to note that a hypertext semantic network doesn't fit completely the traditional notion of semantic network. As a matter of fact the nodes can identify themselves with large segments of text or graphics and don't need to correspond to well defined concepts. Nodes A. Oliveira (ed.), Hypermedia Courseware: Structures of Communication and Intelligent Help © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 1992