CHEOPS: Adaptive hypermedia on world wide web

Abstract

Because of stateless characteristics of HTTP, it is not possible for HTTP servers to adapt responses on the basis of previous interactions with the same user. Although efficient, this is a limiting aspect of the protocol, particularly for Web documents that are directed toward a broad audience, including experts and novices and an adaptive response would be helpful in providing information with the right style. We present here the key concepts of CHEOPS, a system that is being developed as a tool that can be used by hyperdocument designers to provide their document with adaptivity and navigational aids. Version 0.9 of CHEOPS, actually available, is implemented by several CGI-BIN scripts that enables an HTTP server to interact with a user and follow her on the “Path to Knowledge”. Solution is transparent to the user and to the client, and has a moderate impact on server performances. Further directions of the work toward version 1.0 is also presented.