Reading and writing are symbol systems, but only two of the many that we use to convey our thoughts and ideas. Any agreed upon or culturally shared symbol system allows us to communicate with one another. There are many such terms that have resulted from the broadened definitions of literacy. In hypertext, we can combine various symbol systems in multilinear formats. The site features a main page with graphics, images, and text.
Many hypertexts allow the reader to focus more deeply on a topic by linking it to another page.
If you are reading an article in Reading Online, for example, you may be referred to a related article or Web site through a hypertext link. However, in hypertext, readers enter the text at some point, then figure out how the links work. Readers then can choose to link or not, in any order, skipping some links, and following others. An important feature of hypertext is the ease with which graphic elements are included. He notes that the transformation is in process and speculates how our literacy is shaped and limited by the technology that we possess.