An experimental system for creating and presenting interactive graphical documents

Abstract

An experimental system is described for the design, development, and presentation of computer-based documents that combine pictures and text on a high-resolution color raster display. Such documents can be used, for example, for maintenance and repair tasks, videotex databases, or computer-aided instruction. Documents are directed graphs whose nodes we refer to as pages, in analogy to the pages of a paper book. A page includes a set of simultaneously displayed pictures, actions (procedures and processes), and indexing information. Pages may be nested arbitrarily deeply in chapters that serve much the same organizing function as those of conventional books. The system is comprised of separate programs for laying out and drawing pictures, for graphically specifying the contents of pages, chapters, and their interconnections, and for displaying the document for user interaction. Examples are given from a prototype maintenance and repair manual in which emphasis was placed on designing actions that allow simple real-time animation and assist in finding one's way around the document.