Object-oriented technology is essentially a technology in search of applications. Applications range over business information modeling, distributed systems programming, knowledge-based problem solving and hypermedia systems.

Hypermedia frameworks

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Additional keywords and phrases: multimedia, hypertext, Dexter reference model, browsing systems, authoring, link types, link attributes, script languages, linguistic symbiosis
slide: Chapter 12: Hypermedia frameworks

In this chapter, we will conclude our study of object-oriented technology by looking at the design and implementation issues that arise in developing hypermedia systems. First, we will introduce the concept of hypermedia from a user perspective. In particular, we will discuss the problems of presentation and navigation. Then we will discuss a hypermedia model supporting multimedia presentation channels and timing constraints. We explore the nature of (hyper) links and discuss the notion of active documents, and we will look at how a multi-paradigm approach to hypermedia programming may be realized by discussing the design underlying hush (the hyper utility shell library for C++). Finally, we will discuss the software engineering issues involved in developing hypermedia systems. In particular, we will look at the contribution of object-oriented technology to the development of heterogeneous systems, and simultaneously (concluding this chapter and book) at the possible future of object orientation.