inlineLink: Inline Expansion Link Methods in Hypertext Browsing

Conventional web browsers are designed to display a single web page for each window. A reader who wants to follow a link to a new web page while continuing to display the previous web page must do so by utilizing the “open link in new window” menu feature. Having done so, the reader may then control the positions and dimensions of both the old and the new windows, in order to display both web pages at the same time. To reduce the number of steps that must be taken to simultaneously display two or more web pages, we are proposing a new browsing technique, which we have called “inlineLink.” This technique automatically shows both the linked web document and the original web page in a convenient format, thus allowing a reader to follow links more efficiently, without the need to manually manage window size and position, or constant use of the “Back” and “Forward” buttons. This makes it easier for readers to maintain the context of the current web pages, allowing them to concentrate on reading the content while using regular scrolling methods.