The Hyperstandard: Applying Hypertext Technology to Standards Development, Dissemination and Implementation

Published

January 1, 1988

Author(s)

Sanford P. Ressler

Abstract

Standards in the domain of information processing and engineering differ in several fundamental ways from those in the physical sciences. Most obviously there is no physical entity that we call THE STANDARD (The Standard Reference Material). In addition information processing standards are entities which are to be implemented by some automata. A paper document (the specification) is created and must be distributed containing all necessary and presumable sufficient information required to implement the standard. Faced with implementing a standard an individual must treat the standards document as the specification against which to compare their interpretation of that document. Typically a terse concise document which seeks to eliminate ambiguity of interpretation, the standard is often little help for the implementor.

Citation

NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR) - 3859

Report Number

3859

NIST Pub Series

NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR)

Pub Type

NIST Pubs

Keywords

information processing, engineering, reference material, standard

Citation

Ressler, S. (1988), The Hyperstandard: Applying Hypertext Technology to Standards Development, Dissemination and Implementation, NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD (Accessed October 11, 2025)