Idea Discussion - Factoid Context / User Help Cues

[d2fong]

General Discussion for things that could help users navigate / use Factoid

[d2fong]

Idea: Google Docs style Saving... indicator

When you edit anything in a google docs/sheets/slides, there is a minor out of the way ui element that shows two states:

• saving when you start typing/editing anything
• all changes saved to drive after you finish typing/editing

This might be useful for Factoid since it uses the same sort of synchronization mechanisms.
This might be useful for users because it communicates to users that anything they edit/do in the editor will automatically be saved.

[d2fong]

Idea: Factoid Tutorial

I am using this website called landerapp and noticed that they have a tutorial feature that highlights important ui elements and their associated function. It might be useful as a one time thing for users.

I suspect some of you won't like this idea but I am putting this out there anyways for ideation purposes.

[maxkfranz]

We already tried tutorials/tours. They don't work. Most people ignore them.

We should be designing the UI such that the user does not need to be guided ( by a video, tutorial, stepper, etc.).

[d2fong]

Is evidence of this that people can see via previous testing docs/videos? It would be good to post links here so others can gain this knowledge.

[jvwong]

Below is a screenshot of the earliest version of Factoid that I tested in February 2016.

Naively, i wrote up a (very verbose) user guide for this version. You can see all the things we first tested before proposing any changes. You can see the user testing summary.

That being said, a recent user test subject suggested that there could be a single "help" toolbar icon which would provide help, as users willing to use Factoid would be open to this.

Help

• Suggested that there could button on the sidebar that would show a manual or video on how to use Factoid drawing tools
  • He suggested that users interested in using Factoid would entertain or be willing to spend the time to get more information about how-to use
  • Thought that using Factoid was in fact simple

[d2fong]

Ok thanks @jvwong, this is really helpful.

[sacdallago]

@jvwong I think the last point you make is exactly what people over here imagine, aka:

That being said, a recent user test subject suggested that there could be a single "help" toolbar icon which would provide help, as users willing to use Factoid would be open to this.

The side column could serve that purpose, maybe? I would develop it into a non-blocking behavior, so no-modals, and no need to actually "close" the suggestion "box" wherever it's gonna be put.

P.S.: there is still the discussion (here, at least) about a permanent stepper (say on the bottom of the page) which would be only a clue for the users that they are now in the "editing" mode and the next step would be "submit".

[jvwong]

@sacdallago I think you're on the right track. Another user I recall suggesting they wouldn't mind a quick video etc...

But I think this is a key point: Let the user explicitly request help as they request it rather than blasting them. I think the latter is the annoying part of some advertising strategies, which everyone is trained to ignore.

[maxkfranz]

P.S.: there is still the discussion (here, at least) about a permanent stepper (say on the bottom of the page) which would be only a clue for the users that they are now in the "editing" mode and the next step would be "submit".

Once you're on the edit page (for whatever view), you really only have one step to do. Having a submit button is something we've already experimented with -- even with validation attached.

The value in validation was a bit dubious. In terms of functionality of the system, it's not strictly necessary to have a user click a submit button to save. But there may be some psychological value in having a user say "I'm done" with a submit button.

[sacdallago]

The value in validation was a bit dubious. In terms of functionality of the system, it's not strictly necessary to have a user click a submit button to save. But there may be some psychological value in having a user say "I'm done" with a submit button.

Yeah, that's more what I had in mind, too. No real validation, rather "let me get out of here" :) The current stage, to me, feels a bit like it's missing a "this is done" message to the user. But most likely it's just that you guys weren't able to get there time-wise, not that it wasn't on the todo :)

[jvwong]

I wanted to relay a recent user testing experience.

While it might seem obvious, new users will not be aware of 1. what subset of biological concepts can be expressed in Factoid and 2. how/where to perform supported actions 3. whether those concepts are visually represented (e.g. modification)

This was particularly apparent after text-mining returned a pre-populated set of interactions (see test description below). It was only after having to create a new entity or interaction using the 'wizard' did the user become aware of the subset of concepts available (e.g. protein modification/phosphorylation) and where to locate this menu item in the UI (i.e. in the entity wizard, step 3) and how it would be represented (some toggle selection).

That being said, at least a few users have suggested that they would like some 'help'. We have to keep in mind that there's no 'Googling' the answer in our case, no Stack Overflow. So maybe a couple of rules of thumb:

• Let the user drive the help
• Keep topics specific
• Restrict to actual points that users may experience

Setup

User was asked to translate a text passage describing a biological 'signalling' pathway

The transforming growth factor beta (TGFB) superfamily of cytokines are involved in a multitude of activities. The TGFB1 ligand can activate the cell-surface receptor ALK5. In the cytoplasm, activated ALK5 phosphorylates the SMAD2 protein. Phosphorylated SMAD2 is able to bind to the common mediator SMAD4, which regulates transcription.

Initial Factoid screen

[sacdallago]

Feels like we have broken this one down into smaller issues and we could close it here.