Aarseth and Bolter seem to emphasized that the main difference between cybertext and traditional printed texts is that cybertext “involve interactivity” and allows for more control to the readers. Aarseth termed the readers’ interaction with cybertext as “ergodic” which refers to the readers’ choice leading to numerous variations of reading experiences and results. I can see how this definition can apply to cybertext such as the Hejirascope project, however I do not see how the definition can apply to the Young-Hae Chang Heavy Industries cybertext project of Bust Down the Doors! and All Fall Down. In both “Bust Down the Doors! and “All Fall Down” it appears that the readers have little control or direct interaction to change the course of the words flashed on the screen. Textual media seem to be more than just the electronic medium that is used to present the literature and the capability for reader interactions with the text. Despite the lack of readers’ control within the text the Young-Hae Chang Heavy Industries is considered as a form of textual media because the form of the text incorporate sounds and the continual self-flashing of words cannot be reproduced in print format. So is the definition of textual media similar to cybertext?
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In response to nluu’s post, regarding the Young-Hae Chang Heavy Industries’ cybertext project of “Bust Down the Doors!”, I do agree that the reader has little ability to control their interactivity with this text with this work. The words flash on the screen, and we have no control as to how fast we read or what we are reading. However, in “All Fall Down” we do have some control over what we read. Unlike “Bust Down the Doors!”, we have two options – we can either read the top scroll or the bottom scroll. We are, however, like in “Bust Down the Doors!” limited by the fact that we have no control as to how fast we read, or what context we are reading. (And unless you can read extremely fast, you are also unable to read both scrolls at once). I think “All Fall Down” gives you a little more control over what you are reading than does “Bust Down the Doors!”. I agree with nluu that while both of these pieces don’t fall within the definition of standard printed text, they don’t completely fall within Aarseth and Bolter’s idea of “cybertext” either.