hypermedia
UK[ˌhaɪ.pəˈmiː.di.ə]US[ˌhaɪ.pɚˈmiː.di.ə]
n
a computing system in which text, sound, video, etc. are linked together and can be accessed from any point, especially on the internet.
Morpheme Breakdown
hyper
media
hyper
over, beyond
media
means of communication
Etymology
the term 'hypermedia' is a modern compound, coined in the latter half of the 20th century by analogy with 'hypertext'. its first element, 'hyper-', derives from greek 'huper', meaning 'over' or 'beyond', which itself traces back to the proto-indo-european root uper. the second element, 'media', is the plural of latin 'medium', meaning an intervening substance or channel, from the proto-indo-european root medhyo- ('middle'). the logic of the word is elegantly direct: it describes a system that goes 'beyond' traditional, linear media by creating a web of interconnected multimedia elements, where any piece of content can serve as a node linking to others.
Analysis
Structure: hyper (over, beyond) + media (means of communication)
- hyper: from greek, meaning 'over, beyond, excessive'. functions as a prefix indicating extension or intensification.
- media: from latin 'medium' (meaning 'middle, intermediary'), plural form. functions as the base noun denoting means of mass communication.
Examples
the website is an excellent example of hypermedia, combining articles, interactive maps, and video interviews.
early visions of hypermedia imagined a non-linear network of information long before the world wide web made it commonplace.
the educational software uses hypermedia principles to allow students to explore topics through connected texts, images, and audio clips.