1. A Brief Overview of Online Help By Jennifer L. Bowie For Electronic Writing & Publishing

2. What is online help? Software with the “primary purpose to provide information and assist the user in completing some task in another piece of computer software” (Pratt, 33) Evolved from the often huge print manuals that used to come with software Often of two main types: –Goal-based/task-orientated: help users achieve a certain goal or tasks –Problem-solver: help users to solve problems with the interface/software

3. What is the online help family? Grandparents: user manuals Parents: online documentation (the user manual put on screen) Siblings: –Online help –Wizards: intrinsic help, helps users perform a particular task –Embedded help: help within the interface, does not require user to leave the task

4. Examples: Online Help

5. Examples: Wizards

6. Examples: Embedded Help

7. Questions? Sources: –“Where is the Instruction…” Pratt –“Embedded Help…” Ray & Ray –“10 Design Principles…” Lancaster –“Wizards” Allen