When we think about hypertext, we usually think about websites, links, and the internet. However, Angela M. Haas explains that the idea of connecting information existed long before computers. I think that this is pretty interesting because I never though that was the case for whatever reason. I always thought that the best way to connect information and the easiest way was digitally. She uses wampum belts as an example of an early form of hypertext. Wampum belts were made from beads and were used by Indigenous peoples to remember important things like treaties, agreements, wars, and relationships.
The colors, patterns, and way the beads were arranged all had different meanings. People also used stories, memories, and knowledge from their communities to understand what the belts meant. This is similar to hypertext because hypertext also connects different pieces of information together. I think Haas makes a good point because when we learn about technology, we usually focus on computers and Western inventions. We might hear about people like Vannevar Bush and Ted Nelson when learning about the history of hypertext, but Haas shows that Indigenous people had their own advanced ways of organizing and sharing information much earlier. In my opinion, wampum should be included when talking about the history of technology and hypertext.
It shows that technology does not always have to involve computers or electronics. People have been finding creative ways to save, share, and connect information for a very long time. Learning about wampum also helps us recognize the important contributions Indigenous communities have made to technology and communication.
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