[[alternative]]HIPNET: A Petri Net Based Data Model for Hypermedia Design

[[abstract]]Hypermedia is an approach to non - linearly integrate information from all kinds of media, such as texts, images, graphs, animations, videos, music, speeches, and so on. Thanks to the active research on multimedia and hypermedia in the recent years, multimedia / hypermedia softwares are flooding the market. However, hypermedia system development still remains more of an art than science. At first, the hypermedia author must collect all the information from various media sources which he wants to present to the users. Then, he must integrate and link this collection of information of different media by using some kinds of authoring tools such as Authorware or Toolbook. While we are using these tools, it is inevitable to refer to the handbooks or the user's guides. Furthermore, the ability to program is neccessary, too. This is one of the obstacles which prevent non - programmers from turning out their own ideal hypermedia presentation. Our research focuses on the development of a Hypermedia design tool that in function, is similar to those available in the market place, but easier to use (no coding is necessary) and differs in its capability to analyze the designed system to show its correctness and soundness. Our approach calls for a theoretical study of a suitable data model for modeling general hypermedia system. The directed graph model used by most of the hypermedia system has many limitations. Our model, which is based on the well studied Petri Net, is capable of overcoming those limitations. Furthermore, it allows analysis of the designed system so that the correctness and soundness of the system can be determined before the system is put to use. According to the theoretical model, we present a line of research which leads to the development of a Hypermedia design and development tool with the goals that (1) it must be easy to learn; (2) it requires no programming during the development; and (3) graphical user interface is required to ensure user - friendliness.