Google DTorial: An interactive tutorial framework for blind users in a Web 2.0 world - Manual (Page 10)

6.4 Users Requested Both Upfront Tutorial and Embedded Help System
At the conclusion of our user studies many participants liked DTorial. However most
requested an up-front tutorial document in HTML to give an overview of many or
most of the topics. Getting a good all-in-one-read tour is necessary before exploring.
The following quote illustrates why presenting a mental map of page content upfront
is so important to users:
One key component of learning for a visually impaired person is
orientation; I like to know where I am in the big picture - PP4
However, an HTML tutorial alone still presents many of the difficulties experienced
with the current state of online help systems.
RECOMMENDATION:
Provide Tutorials with Embedded Quick Help
Users explicitly requested a system design with both an upfront HTML tutorial (as
a getting started guide) with embedded quick help system (that is accessable within
the web application via search, list, or dropdown menu). Having a quick in-line
reference like DTorial is a complement to facilitate trial and error, experimentation,
quickly learning how to execute new functions, or get refreshers on forgotten features
without leaving the application. One individual described having both systems as:
It would be the Cadillac, you would give me both of these... give it
all to me and charge me not extra for it. – P4
Another user described how having DTorial as a persistent element of the interface
can provide constant support:
It seems like the fact that you have gotten rid of the complexity of
having to change windows to do anything. I think the other thing is
that this type of setup you could leave around, even if you, as you
got more familiar with it, since it has the hide tutorial option, and if
you did forget something... So basically, it seems that if you did
temporary forget something, or want to go back look up a function
that you didn't quite remember or didn't use often. The fact that you
had that there would be really helpful – P17
6.5 Users Complain about Readability
Since VIUs cannot skim a page visually, screen reader users are dependent on
features in a screen reader to help them navigate the page to the textual content. Users
must either listen to all the content in order, or use methods to stop and skip around
on the page. One user specifically stated that:
The less irrelevant information the better… The less information, as
long as you’re deleting irrelevant information, I think it is better [or
a JAWS user]