Performance Support Systems

You can integrate help for your users directly into your software interface through a Performance Support System (PSS). A well-designed PSS should enable users to answer their questions without taking them away from the application. An example of a PSS that most people are familiar with is MicroSoft Office's "Clippy." Of course many users found Clippy annoying and not particularly helpful. New trends in Performance Support Systems are more elegantly designed and less intrusive.

Performance Support Samples

Computer-Based Training

The Web has created fantastic evolutions in computer-based training (CBT), but there are a lot of web-based training systems that fall short. Many adults do not easily retain the information presented in an online format. Traditionally, CBTs were primarily text-based, so users were required to read a great deal of material online (How many people do you know who really like reading online?). This sort of presentation only meets the learning style needs of a handful of adults. Ideally all training material, CBTs included, should provide visual, auditory, and tactile techniques in order to reach most adult learners.

Because broadband capabilities are now widely available, we can create CBTs that may still include quite a lot of text, but also integrate sound and realistic scenarios. Ah, isn't it a fabulous time to be alive!