Help systems are a necessity for educating individuals in the use of a computer application. Help systems like welcome screens, tutorials and instructive hints are there to improve the ability and performance speed of a person utilizing a program. However, the help systems can become annoying to the expert users if they continue. For example, the paperclip helper thing in the very old versions of Microsoft Word was an annoying help system. The paperclip would "help you" through making a paper by giving you advice but it would just abruptly stopped you from finishing the document. Help systems have to have a healthy balance of pushing you in the right direction and knowing when to let go of holding your hand through the process.
For project 5, I believe the audience we are designing for are obviously the fans of the superheroes. The loyal fan base are the ones that care the most about the lore and stories of the superheroes. Making a design that they would accept is key because a horribly thought out design for a hero can create immense fan boy backlash. For example, if DC comics gave Superman a gun to go along with his 50 other powers than the fans would burn down DC headquarters in rage. There are somethings that you cannot do because it would ruin the essence of the character and we have to tip toe on that line for this project.
I agree with your opinion on help systems and how they can hinder an expert user's experience. The example you used of the Microsoft Word paperclip aides in how you described the help system's purpose as being annoying. Also, I agree with who you described as the targeted persona/audience for project 5. These designs we are creating obviously have to be aimed at the people who enjoy a superhero: their fans.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your point about help system. They should not bother users at work, or it would be a nuisance rather than helper. Though, if old MS Word was designed more obviously, it might have been okay even without something better than that paper clip, I think.
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