Adaptive hypermedia
Encyclopedia
In contrast to traditional e-learning/electronic learning, e-business, and e-government systems, whereby all users are offered or even directed a standard series of hyperlink
s, adaptive hypermedia (AH) tailors what the user sees to the learner's goals, abilities, interests, knowledge, etc. Adaptive hypermedia is the answer to the "lost in hyperspace" syndrome, where the user has normally too many links to choose from, and little knowledge about how to proceed and select the most appropriate ones to him/her. Adaptive hypermedia thus offers a selection of links or content most appropriate to the current user. Moreover, adaptive hypermedia can also offer the most appropriate links or content for the context of the current user, for the device the current user is accessing the information from (e.g. hand-held device versus desktop, etc.). Adaptive hypermedia is thus closely related to web personalization.
(AEH), which tailors what the learner sees to that learner's goals, abilities, needs, interests, and knowledge
of the subject, by providing hyperlinks that are most relevant to the user. Essentially, the teaching tools "adapt" to the learner. Of course, this requires the system to be able to effectively infer the learner's needs and desires.
However, AEH is not the only application field for AH. E-business can be performed via adaptive hypermedia, where the items offered for purchasing are adapted to the user's detected interests. A good example of such behaviour is the Amazon
book recommendation, where a current buyer is offered books via the catchphrase "buyers who bought this book also bought ...". Thus, the use of adaptive hypermedia is not limited to formal (or informal) education or training endeavours. Such systems can increase profits by adapting to consumers' searches (sometimes unconscious) for goods, services, and experiences. Thus, systems like Amazon
are also examples of adaptive hypermedia, recommending books based on user preferences and prior history. Other application fields of adaptive hypermedia, besides adaptive e-learning
and adaptive e-commerce applications, can be adaptive e-government applications. Generally speaking, adaptive hypermedia systems can be useful anywhere where hypertext
and hypermedia are used. The most popular adaptive hypermedia systems are web
-based systems.
, cognitive science
, intelligent tutoring systems, web commerce
and computer engineering
are contributing to the development of adaptive hypermedia. Unlike intelligent tutoring systems, however, adaptive educational hypermedia doesn't target stand-alone systems, but hypermedia
systems.
" is more surprising and thus more interesting. This conforms with the general preference of the adaptive hypermedia research community, which considers adaptation more interesting. However, the truth of adaptive hypermedia systems is somewhere in the middle, combining and balancing adaptation and adaptability.
, and the results are published in several journals and conferences such as:
Hyperlink
In computing, a hyperlink is a reference to data that the reader can directly follow, or that is followed automatically. A hyperlink points to a whole document or to a specific element within a document. Hypertext is text with hyperlinks...
s, adaptive hypermedia (AH) tailors what the user sees to the learner's goals, abilities, interests, knowledge, etc. Adaptive hypermedia is the answer to the "lost in hyperspace" syndrome, where the user has normally too many links to choose from, and little knowledge about how to proceed and select the most appropriate ones to him/her. Adaptive hypermedia thus offers a selection of links or content most appropriate to the current user. Moreover, adaptive hypermedia can also offer the most appropriate links or content for the context of the current user, for the device the current user is accessing the information from (e.g. hand-held device versus desktop, etc.). Adaptive hypermedia is thus closely related to web personalization.
Application fields
A very popular (and historically the first) application field of adaptive hypermedia is adaptive educational hypermediaAdaptive educational hypermedia
Adaptive educational hypermedia is one of the first and most popular kinds of adaptive hypermedia. It applies adaptive hypermedia to the domain of education...
(AEH), which tailors what the learner sees to that learner's goals, abilities, needs, interests, and knowledge
Knowledge
Knowledge is a familiarity with someone or something unknown, which can include information, facts, descriptions, or skills acquired through experience or education. It can refer to the theoretical or practical understanding of a subject...
of the subject, by providing hyperlinks that are most relevant to the user. Essentially, the teaching tools "adapt" to the learner. Of course, this requires the system to be able to effectively infer the learner's needs and desires.
However, AEH is not the only application field for AH. E-business can be performed via adaptive hypermedia, where the items offered for purchasing are adapted to the user's detected interests. A good example of such behaviour is the Amazon
Amazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...
book recommendation, where a current buyer is offered books via the catchphrase "buyers who bought this book also bought ...". Thus, the use of adaptive hypermedia is not limited to formal (or informal) education or training endeavours. Such systems can increase profits by adapting to consumers' searches (sometimes unconscious) for goods, services, and experiences. Thus, systems like Amazon
Amazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...
are also examples of adaptive hypermedia, recommending books based on user preferences and prior history. Other application fields of adaptive hypermedia, besides adaptive e-learning
E-learning
E-learning comprises all forms of electronically supported learning and teaching. The information and communication systems, whether networked learning or not, serve as specific media to implement the learning process...
and adaptive e-commerce applications, can be adaptive e-government applications. Generally speaking, adaptive hypermedia systems can be useful anywhere where hypertext
Hypertext
Hypertext is text displayed on a computer or other electronic device with references to other text that the reader can immediately access, usually by a mouse click or keypress sequence. Apart from running text, hypertext may contain tables, images and other presentational devices. Hypertext is the...
and hypermedia are used. The most popular adaptive hypermedia systems are web
World Wide Web
The World Wide Web is a system of interlinked hypertext documents accessed via the Internet...
-based systems.
Related research fields
Many fields of research including human-computer interaction, educational technologyEducational technology
Educational technology is the study and ethical practice of facilitating learning and improving performance by creating, using and managing appropriate technological processes and resources." The term educational technology is often associated with, and encompasses, instructional theory and...
, cognitive science
Cognitive science
Cognitive science is the interdisciplinary scientific study of mind and its processes. It examines what cognition is, what it does and how it works. It includes research on how information is processed , represented, and transformed in behaviour, nervous system or machine...
, intelligent tutoring systems, web commerce
Web commerce
Web commerce is a form of electronic commerce that is conducted primarily through the World Wide Web, but may also use email and other aspects of the Internet....
and computer engineering
Computer engineering
Computer engineering, also called computer systems engineering, is a discipline that integrates several fields of electrical engineering and computer science required to develop computer systems. Computer engineers usually have training in electronic engineering, software design, and...
are contributing to the development of adaptive hypermedia. Unlike intelligent tutoring systems, however, adaptive educational hypermedia doesn't target stand-alone systems, but hypermedia
Hypermedia
Hypermedia is a computer-based information retrieval system that enables a user to gain or provide access to texts, audio and video recordings, photographs and computer graphics related to a particular subject.Hypermedia is a term created by Ted Nelson....
systems.
Adaptivity versus adaptability
An interesting aspect of adaptive hypermedia is that it makes distinction between adaptation (system-driven personalisation and modifications) and adaptability (user-driven personalisation and modifications). One way of looking at it is that adaptation is automatic, whereas adaptability is not. From an epistemic point of view, adaptation can be described as analytic, a-priori, whereas adaptability is synthetic, a-posteriori. In other words, any adaptable system, as it "contains" a human, is by default "intelligent", whereas an adaptive system that presents "intelligenceIntelligence
Intelligence has been defined in different ways, including the abilities for abstract thought, understanding, communication, reasoning, learning, planning, emotional intelligence and problem solving....
" is more surprising and thus more interesting. This conforms with the general preference of the adaptive hypermedia research community, which considers adaptation more interesting. However, the truth of adaptive hypermedia systems is somewhere in the middle, combining and balancing adaptation and adaptability.
Research
Adaptive hypermedia is the object of a number of researches, in particular in conjunction with user modelingUser modeling
User modeling is a subdivision of human–computer interaction and describes theprocess of building up and modifying a user model. The main goal of user modeling is customization and adaptation of systems to the user's specific needs. The system needs to "say the 'right' thing at the 'right' time in...
, and the results are published in several journals and conferences such as:
See also
- Adaptive educational hypermediaAdaptive educational hypermediaAdaptive educational hypermedia is one of the first and most popular kinds of adaptive hypermedia. It applies adaptive hypermedia to the domain of education...
- authoring of adaptive hypermediaAuthoring of adaptive hypermedia-Definition:Authoring of Adaptive hypermedia comprises the design and creation process of adaptive hypermedia: creation of content and adaptive behaviour -Definition:Authoring of Adaptive hypermedia (AH) comprises the design and creation process of adaptive hypermedia: creation of content...
- Personalisation
- User modelingUser modelingUser modeling is a subdivision of human–computer interaction and describes theprocess of building up and modifying a user model. The main goal of user modeling is customization and adaptation of systems to the user's specific needs. The system needs to "say the 'right' thing at the 'right' time in...
- SimulationSimulationSimulation is the imitation of some real thing available, state of affairs, or process. The act of simulating something generally entails representing certain key characteristics or behaviours of a selected physical or abstract system....
- Attentive user interfaceAttentive user interfaceThe Attentive User Interfaces are User Interfaces that manage the user attention. For instance an AUI can manage notification , deciding when to interrupt the user, the kind of warnings, and the level of detail of the messages presented to the user....