HyTelnet  HyTelnet (sometimes rendered "Hytelnet" or "HYTELNET") was an early attempt to create a universal or at least simpler interface for the various Telnet-based information resources available before the World Wide Web. It was first developed in 1990 by Peter Scott, then at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, Canada. Using a client written by Earl Fogel, HyTelnet offered its users a primitive terminal-based GUI that allowed them to browse a directory of Telnet-based resources and then access them in a relatively standardized manner. On-line help was available, and there were frequent updates made available to its database which sites could download. HyTelnet's chief inadequacy was that it was not centralized, i.e., every HyTelnet installation used its own separate copy of the master directory. While beneficial early-on, as it ensured no dependence on a central server, HyTelnet's user experience could vary widely as local installations might not have the same version of the client or might have obsolete information. This became a greater liability as more institutions had reliable, "always-on" Internet access. Finally, when the World Wide Web gained pre-eminence, many of the services that HyTelnet pointed to were gradually retired, increasingly limiting its relevance. HyTelnet's final database update was in 1997. This is a typical HyTelnet screen running much as a user would have experienced it, rendered in non-proportional font to simulate a terminal. This is from one of the last releases of the client, which was version 6.9. Items in angle brackets < > are selectable, and can be highlighted by using the cursor motion keys. There is a prominent online help option. The right arrow/cursor key selects the highlighted option, or ENTER/RETURN. The left key allows users to back up to an earlier level. The search option allows a simple search of a central INDEX file. This INDEX file is one-line-per-resource, and is a flat file that the Hytelnet client searches directly. After entering a term, the client returns a new menu with the list of selectable items, for example this query "library": The user may then select one of these options, or go back with the left arrow. Search results will vary based on the locally installed database. After drilling down to a specific resource, HyTelnet will display a connect page. The hostname, IP address and contact address are for example purposes only, and may not necessarily connect to anything functional (although this is a real entry in HyTelnet's last released database).