An introduction to interactive hypermedia

Current computers can create and display documents that incorporate a variety of audiovisual media, and can be organized to allow the user, guided by curiosity and not by a fixed path through the material, to move through the information in non-linear pathways. These hypermedia documents and the concept of hypertext offer significant new possibilities for the creation of educational materials for the biomedical sciences. If the full capabilities of the computer are to be used to enhance the educational experience for learners, computer professionals need to collaborate with publishing and teaching professionals. Biomedical communications professionals can and should play a role in establishing and evaluating hypermedia documents for medical education.