Collaborative writing and editing typically use annotations to coordinate edition tasks, comment the content, add relevant references, or clarify confusing content. Despite that wikis are among the most widely used hypertext systems for performing such collaborative activities, they have little support to annotations. In this paper, we propose to use spatial hypertext layers as the solution for the management of annotations in wikis. We have extended ShyWiki, a spatial hypertext wiki environment, with Multilayer Superimposed Information features. In addition, we present the results of a study that shows the value of spatial hypertext layers for locate, organize and group annotations in interest groups under a wiki interface.
Annotations help to understand and discuss a content. They have been used in physical content especially in books since centuries. There are personal and collaborative annotations, they are used to remark important information, include missing one, add references, etc.
Annotations have been used to enrich the content of hypertext documents.
Annotations have been part of hypertext since Memex (Bush, 1945) and NLS (Engelbart).
Wikis are collaborative hypertext systems, with low technical barriers, and provide a shared information space. They are a reliable and cheap solution for knowledge management.
However, the knowledge in wikis can hardly be used by machines, because it lacks of structure.
Wikis are collaborative hypertext systems, with low technical barriers, and provide a shared information space. They are a reliable and cheap solution for knowledge management.
However, the knowledge in wikis can hardly be used by machines, because it lacks of structure.
Why do we have to annotate in a wiki?
Wikis are collaborative hypertext systems, with low technical barriers, and provide a shared information space. They are a reliable and cheap solution for knowledge management.
However, the knowledge in wikis can hardly be used by machines, because it lacks of structure.
Wikis are collaborative hypertext systems, with low technical barriers, and provide a shared information space. They are a reliable and cheap solution for knowledge management.
However, the knowledge in wikis can hardly be used by machines, because it lacks of structure.
Adding annotation capability to collaborative editing systems like wikis have some general requirements
Adding annotation capability to collaborative editing systems like wikis have some general requirements
What other solutions are available to annotate the wiki content.
Open hypermedia is a way to extend monolithic hypermedia systems by integrating third-party applications with hypermedia.
There are OH systems such as Microcosm, Chimera, Annotea, Fluid allow users to annotate and add hyperlinks.
But open hypermedia data needs special servers and browsers that are not yet integrated with web servers and wikis (figure).
Spatial hypertext has not been used in collaborative systems such as wikis (until ShyWiki).
Spatial Hypertext might have the problem of information overload, and they do not satisfy the general and specific requirements.