The document discusses the concept of cybertext as defined by Espen Aarseth, describing it as a form of ergodic literature that emphasizes the interactive and dynamic nature of texts influenced by technology. Key features include algorithmic principles, randomness, and the need for non-trivial effort by users to comprehend content. It differentiates between hypertext, which is static, and cybertext, which is dynamic and engages readers in a more participatory manner.

2. Topic: Cybertext
Subject: Language and Technology
Presented To: Dr. Usaim Asif
Presented By: Asma Saif Ullah
Department of English (Ghazi University Dera Ghazi Khan)

3. Cybertext according to Wikipedia:
 Cybertext is the organization of text in order to
analyze the influence of the medium as an integral
part of the literary dynamic, as defined by Espen
Aarseth in 1997. Aarseth defined it as a type of ergodic
literature where user traverses the text by doing non-
trivial work.
 Aarseth also described it as “Mutually interactive,
technology enhanced text”

4. According to Aarseth:
 It’s a type of Ergodic literature.
 Though Ergodic is mostly regarded as mathematical
term but Aarseth used it in terms of “time bound” or
“dependant on time”.
 And literature is not particular as English literature or
Urdu literature, this term is here used in terms of
information, history, knowledge.
 Non-trivial here refer to something significant, or
something that requires effort to understand.

5. For Example:
 If we search any article on Wikipedia, we may find
some terms which are unknown to us, so we will have
to make effort to understand the meaning and we
might search those terms on Google, in this way it will
be non trivial effort.
 Actually the user, or the reader will effectuate a
semiotic sequence.

7. Main Features of Cybertext:
 Not new or revolutionary form of Text.
 Algorithmic Principles (it follows some computational
rules)
 Randomness
 Permutation
 Self-Organization
 Emergence

8. Aarseth point of view:
 Aarseth Explores the aesthetics and textual dynamics
of digital literature and its diverse genres i.e
 Hypertext fiction
 Computer games
 Computer generated poetry and prose collaborative
internet texts. (e.g ELIZA)

9. Main difference b/w hypertext and
cybertext
 Hypertext is static while cybertext is dynamic.
 Hypertext is actually the link or website which brings
cybertext to us.