Originally published in User Interface Design Workbook, Multimedia Computing Corporation

Hypermedia, sometimes called interactive multimedia, offers one of the greatest promises for computing. It brings together numbers, text, drawings, photographs, animation, video, and sound, presenting them in an interactive and therefore nonlinear format.

Such a rich, new medium almost invites confusion. With no tradition to follow, and so many media available, information often becomes hopelessly complex and obscure. Sadly, early results have often been a confusing mess.

Still, the potential for hypermedia is great. The challenge for designers and authors is to find ways to make interactive multimedia clear.

On Sunday 28 October I attended Shanghai Barcamp 9, organised by TechYizu. It was great to catch up with everyone in the local tech scene. Barcamps are "unconferences", meaning anyone can show up without registering, and give a talk on a geeky topic of their choice.

Forty - Business Blog - Where Company Names Come From