Hypertext Research Vademecum: Translating Experimental Systems into Conceptual Contributions

Abstract

While the hypertext community is deeply rooted in a shared vision of technology for human growth, contemporary research often struggles to translate successful artefacts and system engineering into enduring theoretical contributions. Reviewing and authoring hypertext research frequently reveals a persistent gap: experimental systems are proven to work, yet the deeper "so what?" question remains unaddressed. This position paper introduces a vademecum for hypertext research, a practical, self-reflective framework designed to help researcher-technologists step outside the role of the mere executioner and adopt the perspective of the critic-philosopher. By mapping self-assessment across the three distinct phases of an idea’s development lifecycle (conceptual framing, development, and critique), the vademecum provides actionable prompts to uncover hidden assumptions, discover emerging theories when the rubber meets the road, and evaluate success organically rather than through synthetic, self-fulfilling metrics. As a foundational tool, the vademecum offers a personal perspective on fostering our community through its unique combination of technical ingenuity and rigorous conceptual critique, thereby distinguishing hypertext research from mainstream computer science fields.