Formal dialogue specification for hypertext and multimedia systems

We discuss issues relating to the use of CSP, a process-based formal notation, in the specification of human-computer dialogue with hypertext and multimedia systems. We illustrate our discussion with a small example and describe how this demonstrates important features of three systems: a simple bibliographic database; a multimedia information system; and a hypermedia exhibition guide. We consider the way in which CSP dialogue specifications can be used in the design and development of such systems and identify some areas for further work.