Response to Hypertext Theory (Landow)

I thought that the article was somewhat difficult to read because there were a lot of books that were referred to that I havent read or even heard of. Reading this article definately showed how much he knows about hypertext. There were a few points that stuck out to me, concerning how much hypertext has helped out society. He talks about the start of hypertext, and how it evolved from a "dissatisfaction" with printed books. I can see how the internet is more convenient but I dont really think that there were problems with books that made people think that some other way of holding information needed to be developed. It was interesting how he showed the relationship and similarities between literary theorists and computer scientists. I never saw the relationship so it was different to see him prove that. He also mentions that hypertext calls for and has developed a new form of writing. I had written about about this before, and how in email people even use a shorthand form of typing. I had a question about how one should dissect hypertext and take its digital text as one, and it's reading on the screen. Just from being in class these few weeks I see how the development of hypertext is one thing, and enjoying the creation is another. It was also discussed how reading something on the screen takes away from the physical presence of a book. It really feels like we take hypertext and much of technology for granted. You dont realize that the monitors or screens in the classrooms are so useful compared to writing everything on a chalk board. Actually handwritting everything out has its advantages too, but in an age of hypertext and technology, we should become versed in their use and practice.