ABSTRACT
Multimedia programs and web sites have a wide variety of possible structures and navigation. Linear structure makes it possible to integrate into multimedia some of the standard linear informational structures, such as the problem-solution structure and the dialectical structure. In hierarchical branching, information is organized according to categories and subcategories, so users can click an information category and then a subcategory to find the information that they want. Hierarchical branching in a multimedia program works exactly this way with a hierarchy of ever-narrowing choices, except the readers finger does the clicking instead of their heels. Branching explosion is kept under control by limiting categories at a level, segmenting the audience at the top of the hierarchy, and by allowing alternate access to information on the site, such as search and sitemaps. The web allows the possibility of linking all of the structures in one unlimited search for information.
