Prof. Dr. Claus Atzenbeck opened ACM Hypertext 2026 in London with a keynote address on the development of hypertext and its significance for the future of artificial intelligence. He had already brought the international conference to Hof University in 2019.
From September 14 to 18, 2026, the international hypertext community gathered at the London College of Communication for the 37th international “ACM Conference on Hypertext.” Prof. Dr. Claus Atzenbeck, a professor at Hof University of Applied Sciences and head of the Visual Analytics research group at the Institute for Information Systems (iisys), kicked off the event with his keynote address “Armillaria Hypertexta” on the topic of “Hypertext as a Method.” Atzenbeck had already organized the 30th edition of the conference as General Co-Chair in Hof in 2019. This placed the university in a series of international host cities, including London, Chicago, Rome, Barcelona, Dublin, Prague, and Paris.
In his presentation, Atzenbeck looked back on the development of hypertext systems since their earliest beginnings. His focus was not merely on the technical possibility of linking information together. Rather, he presented hypertext as a paradigm—a method by which people structure knowledge, establish connections, and link different worlds of information.
A Bridge to Artificial Intelligence
The topic has taken on particular relevance due to the rapid development of artificial intelligence. Atzenbeck drew a connection between the principles of hypertext and today’s AI systems. Both can help link information and reveal new connections. At the same time, the question arises as to what role humans play in these increasingly automated processes.
“Hypertext can help us better understand some of the most pressing ethical questions surrounding artificial intelligence.”
Prof. Dr. Claus Atzenbeck.
The key, he said, is not to remove humans from the process, but to ensure their active and responsible participation.
Hof University of Applied Sciences Has an International Network
In addition to his keynote address, Prof. Dr. Atzenbeck was also involved in organizing the ninth Human Factors in Hypertext Workshop (HUMAN’26). Among other topics, the event focused on human factors in the development and use of digital systems, as well as the question of how technology can support people.
ACM Hypertext is one of the established international conferences in the field of hypertext and hypermedia. It brings together researchers and experts from computer science, information science, media, knowledge management, and other related fields. The conference thus offers a platform for exchanging ideas on new technologies, research approaches, and the future of digital knowledge transfer—while also highlighting Hof University’s international network in a field of research that is gaining renewed relevance due to the development of artificial intelligence.
