With a click of the mouse button a linked source or author's note will appear on the screen. This type of access to multiple texts improves critical thinking skills because readers can decided if a note warrants careful reading or if the reader should return to the main text. Moreover, students have access to multiple texts with different points of view. In contrast, printed books tend to present a single vision. To access multiple texts in a hypertext system, students need to learn how to navigate through electronic space.
Navigation is a nonlinear process with multiple paths.
In contrast, traditional books are linear with a single path. Books are linear because they are structured by the written word. In contrast, hypertexts are nonlinear because they are based on computer technology. The nonlinear characteristic of hypertext creates a new type of reading and writing environment. It is an environment that supports the development of interactive learning materials.