BESD: On-site placement help function research

Showing the right Help content in a small cascading area can quickly find answers to simple questions, but it might be appropriate to do so on the balance of complex web pages and the inability to cater to the needs of users.

Updating our course in the emerging Patterns in Web design, I've noticed that famous websites like Facebook and Google AdWords use similar methods to show what they're offering.

There are two main components of the current trend:

There are two main components of the current trend:

1. Display Help content in a small cascade area, similar to pop-up windows (these cascade areas are the user's initiative to arouse, the system automatically pop-up will make people feel unpleasant.) )

Facebook.com: Click the down arrow button in the upper right corner to open the Help window.

Google AdWords: After selecting the Help button from the Settings menu (left), the Help window appears (right).

2. Based on the situation of the user, the appropriate information provided by the context provides adaptive help, generally in the current window in the application.

Facebook.com: On the project page, the adaptive Help system predicts a number of issues associated with most users, so here are 4 related topics.

These components are not available recently. In the the late 1880s, human-computer interaction researchers have begun to study the adaptive Help system.

Microsoft Office has been using pop-up windows for many years to provide user help information. Now we see the major sites have followed this pattern, such as we see the enlarged icon and flat design, when the well-known sites and applications began to apply these interactive mode, other sites will inevitably start to copy them. It may be just a matter of time before we see other web sites exploring ways to show Help content. (Of course, designers should not copy other models without testing their own content, although it works well.)

　　The golden rule of good help

Before we classify these methods, let's remember that providing help is one of 10 useful methods. The Help system should have three basic features:

1. Available everywhere, without interference. Some of the help should be available in every application or Web page, but it will only bounce when the user needs it. And they do need to be easy to find.

2. Concise but also need some simple description. Help information should be used only in the necessary words, even if the layman can read it.

3. Do not intervene. After using the help, the user should be able to return to his original job quickly.

In this article, we'll look at the pros and cons of small cascading forms and context-sensitive help, and give suggestions on whether and how to use them.

　　Small Cascade Help Window

Small cascading help forms can be useful when more information is needed in ToolTips, but there is no guarantee that the user's attention will be diverted throughout the page.

　　Fewer pop-up windows to disturb

The cascading forms shown here are modeless pop-up windows. They are opened in a browser window, allowing the user to interact in an open screen. The biggest difference between cascading windows and traditional pop-up windows is that cascading windows require a user to start. Because the user looks for help, the active pop-up window appearance will not cause the user's favor, will only let the user dislike.

　　Stay in the original position

One benefit of providing help on the main content of the same Web page is that people don't have to leave their current location to see Help. This supports the third rule above, because it only needs to be very small, so that the user simply goes back to the original job. (In contrast to reality: if a technical support person comes to your desk to help you solve your problem, it's much simpler than leaving your office for the IT department needs help.) )

　　Parallel guide

For step-by-step instructions, or for a specific page-related boot, the user can simply shift their attention from the Help window to the main area, rather than switch the page with the toggle key. Displaying Help on different Web pages will affect the user's short-term memory, and when they get back to work, they have to think back to what they just did and add an unnecessary burden to the brain.

　　Isolate the important areas of the screen

Opening a new Web page or pop-up window consumes three-fourths of the screen, and these small cascading forms leave a lot of room for visualization. However, this interface has a lot of elements users need to use, but after the window is hidden.

Facebook.com: The Help window's instructions instruct the user to use an element in the upper-right corner of the page, which is in the Cascade window. Users must turn off the window to find the button below, and they will need to reopen the Help window if they need help.

• Suggestions: Give users more control in the display window, so they can minimize, close or move windows. These features are especially important for applications and dashboards, which allow the tool to move across the screen.

Google Play: Users can move a cascade of Windows through a Web page, thus masking some of the interface.

TurboTax: Cascade windows have an obvious mark to remove the minimized window (the picture above). This allows the user to free up space at the bottom of the screen. When maximized, it returns to its original state.

　　Simple explanation

A small cascade of window size restrictions can be effective in ensuring that the help document is concise and focused (following the second rule above). Some simple questions and answers, such as finding a phone number, can be met by a small window. However, for some of the more complex issues, only concise summaries are provided, and some users need more context and more detail. Advanced users often like to use full screen help, so there is more room to show the full interpretation of the content.

• Suggest: Place a link in the help page to see more information.

Google AdWords: Provides a link to view the article (presumably with more details and related topics) is an effective way to provide some more content and depth of information to help the user.

　　Self-adapting Help

Adaptive or context-sensitive Help systems can give users hints based on the user's recent operations or location in the application. This is also called the intelligent Help system, which displays contextual information. The simplest context help example is the ToolTip tool.

Microsoft's paper Clip Animation Assistant is one of the most widely known intelligent help systems. If the system detects user input "Dear Jakob," the assistant will appear in the corner, providing help for creation and correspondence.

　　Predicting users ' problems can be quicker to find answers

The Microsoft Assistant was not welcomed, in part because it appeared without a direct request from the user. Like a pop-up window, this animation disturbs the user who does not need help (violating the first rule at the top of the article). But the intention is good, to predict the user has the need and provide the relevant information abbreviations. Tip tool This will do well because when the user clicks on it, click it or select it, they represent a specific user interface element,

Like Google AdWords and the Help system Facebook uses, it provides links to more help content that is relevant to the user's current location. When these links correctly predict the user's needs, they can quickly reach that information, similar to the large menu in the navigation.

Google AdWords: After selecting the Ad Groups tab on the Campaigns page, the Adaptive Help menu prompts topics related to campaigns and ad groups.

　　The system can't predict anything, and the user knows it.

If the title of the system hint is not of interest to the user, they will soon ignore the prompts (another reason for the failure of the Microsoft Assistant is that they cannot predict the user's problem). Even if we try to get it, the system that is accurately predicted is facing great challenges. They have to understand the habits that people used to create in other help systems, even if the system had absolutely no idea what people needed. As a result, many users do not look at the cue headers because they feel that these tips will not answer their questions.

• Recommendation 1: Use only if the intelligent Help system is highly accurate in predicting user needs. (for designers who follow this trend, remember that companies that have been using these systems have a bigger budget than most companies to develop and maintain them)

• Recommendation 2: Tip help headers should be scanned and loaded with keywords. Users will be more inclined to look at these simple and straightforward tip headings

Turbotax.com (left) The search answer that is preloaded in the top questions is more complex than the facebook.com preload mode.

• Recommendation 3: Provide intelligent Help system, as a user an alternative way to find what they need. and provide a Help center link, because the advanced user may skip the hint to browse the answer directly.

　　Summarize

This article describes the trends associated with the two help patterns that have not been resolved without careful consideration of time and budget issues. If an interface requires more help than the ToolTip or single-line text, consider the small Cascade Help window as a repository supplement. This way most users can get their simple and straightforward answers without going to other help pages. For most companies, the overhead of developing an intelligent help system is much more than the convenience of the user. Most of the time, budgets can be used for usability testing and for improving the interface.