With completely DIFFERENT reading environments, it is to no surprise that the expectations and tastes of a print text reader and hypertext reader differ greatly. Firstly, let us look at the expectations and tastes of a PRINT TEXT READER. These readers would expect a linear flow to the piece they are reading. In other words, there would be a clearly defined story- line with a specific beginning and end. The organisation of the text would be straightforward and hierarchical where it is read line by line, paragraph to paragraph, page to page and from cover to cover. 

    Readers of print text would expect the author to organize information in a logical and coherent fashion. In addition, the content would not be expected to be all- encompassing due to space and cost constraints. If readers want to read a reference, they are aware that they have to go to a library or bookstore to buy or read it. Furthermore, they most probably see the author as all- powerful, deciding what is read and how it should be read .(1)

    In addition, there would most likely be little graphics or pictures, and the font of the words would be standardized in black ink on a white or brown page. Moreover, these users are able to tell how long a book is just by looking at it.(2) 

    On the other hand, an INTERNET USER would expect a more flexible, interactive, and associative structure to the piece where they get to decide how they want to read a particular piece by choosing between the links provided. Moreover, these links are expected to be to pieces of information that are relevant to the piece in question. 

This nonlinearity and freedom thus shapes the story according to individual tastes and meaning systems. A different experience is thus expected even though the reader is reading the same piece of work. Put another way, Internet users do not expect their reading experience to be determined strictly by the author. In fact, readers like the freedom to surf for information without being constrained within the boundary preset by someone.

    Within this text, Internet users also expect to be wowed by the layout, organisation, graphics, coloured text and different font sizes, besides engulfing the multimedia options available. In other words, visual impact is expected and appreciated. Another expectation is for hypertext to be inclusive,  where a click of the mouse introduces a whole other world of information.(3)

    However, this is not to say that there are no SIMILARITIES between the two types of readers. Firstly, as readers, both expect, or even demand, grammatical, coherent and logical thought expressed in plain English, which is understandable to all. The use of 'slang' or broken English is not acceptable. Secondly, organisation is also important. Readers expect to read on a line by line basis with some paragraphing at least. Thirdly, both kinds of readers also like some form of visuals included within the text, be it a table of numbers or a picture, at the very minimum.

Endnotes

1.Ilana Snyder, Hypertext: The Electronic Labyrinth (Melbourne: Melbourne University Press, 1996) p.62.

2. Ibid, p.8.

3.Nicholas C. Burbules, "Rhetorics of the Web: hyperreading and critical literacy," in Ilana Snyder, ed., Page to Screen: Taking literacy into the electronic era (London: Routledge , 1998) p.103.