Rethinking the Book

Electronic media have lagged behind their paper progenitors in the clear, usable display of large bodies of information. New visual languages have been created for information display which exploit the computer's unique ability to render dynamic and three-dimensional typography. These languages demonstrate that the use of three dimensional form, expressive movement, visual focus and layering, in harmony with human perceptual abilities, improve navigation and contextual understanding of complex written documents. This thesis shows that graphic displays can be combined with physical interfaces to create interactions with purely typographic information that are rich, tactile and humane. (Copies available exclusively from MIT Libraries, Rm. 14-0551, Cambridge, MA 02139-4307. Ph. 617-253-5668; Fax 617-253-1690.)