Re: Hovery-type Help

[rbilbao -at- us -dot- amadeus -dot- net]

In the past, we've used both methods to add interactivity to boring HTML
learning pieces. The hover things were link pop-ups made to look like tooltips.
They stay on as long as your mouse is over the link. Those were well-liked and
are still on board. The "What's This" kind of thing though is hated by everyone.
I'm still not quite sure why. :o)

Personally, I find tooltips a very big help when learning a new product. After
I'm comfortable with a product, a tooltip still comes in handy once in awhile,
usually when it's a button I don't use often (or one of those funny button
pictures that don't mean anything to anyone except the developer!)






I am writing a user guide for an online trading system. This time around,
they want some onscreen type help for some of the screens. We discussed a
"What's This" type of thing, where you have to click on something on the
screen (like a field name) to get a little pop-up window that describes what
you need to enter into the field. We also discussed just a hover-type help,
where the pop-up window appears if you hover the cursor over the field (no
clicking needed.) The hover seems to be the most favored.

However, as I think about this, will be it annoying for the user (who may
not want any explanation) to have windows popping up as they are trying to
work? The windows may only pop up for a short time...I'm also unclear as to
how long they stay, or how they close - does moving off the field close the
window? This is a new thing for me, and I haven't talked to developement yet
to see what is possible...There are going to be multiple instances on a
screen.

Does anyone out there have any experience with this type of help? Is it a
help or a hindrance?  Any opinions are appreciated. Thanks.

WW





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