Think about the limitations of physical books. They contain stories and information. Books have ways of organizing chapters and a table of contents, even an index. We place them in libraries and physically search for books that contain information relative to our interests.
But electronic literature can take knowledge to the next level. E-books can feature hyperlinks to connect to other sections in the book or external websites. They can integrate with multimedia, voice recordings, AI interactivity, reader commentaries, dictionaries, and more.
The labyrinth of information a reader can access from a single access point via electronic literature is unlimited. The instructions on how to navigate the labyrinth are also included in the labyrinth. That's much more than a book.
Joining the Exchange to help us make sense of the new paradigm of electronic literature are two guests:
Scott Rettberg is Director of the Center for Digital narrative at the University of Oregon, a co-founder of the Electronic Literature Organization and author of "Electronic Literature."
Robert (Bobby) Arellano is a professor of Emerging Media and Design at Southern Oregon University.
