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| adding notes and nodes along a line graph like google analytics, adding pins to map locations, establishing a reference point with additional information. So: A little thing that indicates, and clicking gives you a little more data, which may well NOT be in the little icon, hence it's not just an Icon (which see) and is a different item. ALSO see the eReader project where the highlight can be selected and show more info (not a Tooltip, though, as that is limited, read only, etc.) This is not a tooltip. Deliberate action needed to reveal the additional info, or always there. tooltips are transient, initiated by hover or automatically presented when the system determines the user needs help -- such as first time, or a change in the system since last visit (put these notes over there when done here). The info in a tooltip is also a helpful sort of label or content add on. It is not content itself which it should be in an annotation. |
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| A data point in a dense array of information must be able to show additional details or options without leaving the original display context. | |
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| High-density information displays, such as maps, charts and graphs, often carry additional layers of information, or may be best understood by viewing details at a point. Conventional methods of drilling in deeper such as the '''[[Link]]''' or '''[[Button]]''' are unsuitable for finding out about a specific data point as they remove the user from the original context. A special type of widget is used instead, exemplified by the "pinpoint." An iconic element points to the information selected, and presents (sometimes only after further selection, or in another area of the screen) a label and additional options. This should not be confused with the '''[[Tooltip]]'''. A deliberate action is required to reveal the info information. Tooltips, instead, are transient and initiated by hover or automatically presented when the system determines the user needs help Content within an '''Annotation''' is discrete information, or may even carry functionality, and is not simply help or explanatory text as in a Tooltip. |
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| There are numerous ways in which selection of an item can reveal additional details without entirely disreagrding the original context. Many of these, such as split-screen variations, are not yet common enough they can be considered patterns, but these three are very common: '''Fixed Label''' - When an area is highlighted by the system, or selected by the user, a label bearing text and/or icons is displayed as a part of the graphic "pinpoint" indicator. '''Reveal Label''' - When originally selected, either by the user or the system, a small "pinpoint" indicator is placed. This may have no label, or a very simple one such as a shape, color or single letter. When the user selects the pinpoint again, it will expand to reveal a larger label, which may be identical to the Fixed Label. This is especially useful when multiple pinpoints may be needed, such as graphically-represented search results. The user may then subsequently select details on any individual result. '''Banner''' - A small "pinpoint" indicator is used to mark the location on the data array, as in the Reveal Label. At another location on the page, usually a strip anchored to the top or bottom of the viewport, is the label text, or graphics. This is most suitable when a large amount of data must be presented, or a number of selectable options should be selected. In this case, the Any of these three options may well be used in conjunction with each other, within a single interface. For example when single selections are made, the Fixed Label is used, and for search results, the Reveal Label. |
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| When available, hover or click to see the revealed label. Over... Click to see the details... or if you revealed a label, click the label to see more details (SEE the other page!) -- When the label is presented, don't have it have links. For labels attached to the pinpoint, there are no subsidiary actions; click the label/pinpoint to see more details. Labels that appear in a banner may have multiple actions, of any sort desired (button, link, icons, etc) When an expanded label, it has to get out of the way of other actions you might request. If the user clicks somewhere else, especially somewhere adjacent to the label, make it disappear and become a pinpoint only... |
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| Must clearly point at the location referenced. Pinpoints and labels on top of the image must be clearly not part of the image, so add shadows, and use transitions to make it appear as though it is floating above the image Label should never exceed the space available. Do not let them simply float off the page, and label text should not end in ellipsis, etc. Avoid wrapping to a second line. Multiple lines ore okay (try not to exceed 2) but each line should have its own info. Can have icons & so on w/ the text, but only allow one select item. No links (underlines), buttons, etc. If needed, to clarify the click action, a false button (or link) can be added to the area, as it might be used in a banner ad, |
Problem
A data point in a dense array of information must be able to show additional details or options without leaving the original display context.
Solution
High-density information displays, such as maps, charts and graphs, often carry additional layers of information, or may be best understood by viewing details at a point. Conventional methods of drilling in deeper such as the Link or Button are unsuitable for finding out about a specific data point as they remove the user from the original context.
A special type of widget is used instead, exemplified by the "pinpoint." An iconic element points to the information selected, and presents (sometimes only after further selection, or in another area of the screen) a label and additional options.
This should not be confused with the Tooltip. A deliberate action is required to reveal the info information. Tooltips, instead, are transient and initiated by hover or automatically presented when the system determines the user needs help
Content within an Annotation is discrete information, or may even carry functionality, and is not simply help or explanatory text as in a Tooltip.
Variations
There are numerous ways in which selection of an item can reveal additional details without entirely disreagrding the original context. Many of these, such as split-screen variations, are not yet common enough they can be considered patterns, but these three are very common:
Fixed Label - When an area is highlighted by the system, or selected by the user, a label bearing text and/or icons is displayed as a part of the graphic "pinpoint" indicator.
Reveal Label - When originally selected, either by the user or the system, a small "pinpoint" indicator is placed. This may have no label, or a very simple one such as a shape, color or single letter. When the user selects the pinpoint again, it will expand to reveal a larger label, which may be identical to the Fixed Label.
This is especially useful when multiple pinpoints may be needed, such as graphically-represented search results. The user may then subsequently select details on any individual result.
Banner - A small "pinpoint" indicator is used to mark the location on the data array, as in the Reveal Label. At another location on the page, usually a strip anchored to the top or bottom of the viewport, is the label text, or graphics. This is most suitable when a large amount of data must be presented, or a number of selectable options should be selected. In this case, the
Any of these three options may well be used in conjunction with each other, within a single interface. For example when single selections are made, the Fixed Label is used, and for search results, the Reveal Label.
Interaction Details
When available, hover or click to see the revealed label. Over...
Click to see the details... or if you revealed a label, click the label to see more details (SEE the other page!) -- When the label is presented, don't have it have links. For labels attached to the pinpoint, there are no subsidiary actions; click the label/pinpoint to see more details. Labels that appear in a banner may have multiple actions, of any sort desired (button, link, icons, etc)
When an expanded label, it has to get out of the way of other actions you might request. If the user clicks somewhere else, especially somewhere adjacent to the label, make it disappear and become a pinpoint only...
Presentation Details
Must clearly point at the location referenced. Pinpoints and labels on top of the image must be clearly not part of the image, so add shadows, and use transitions to make it appear as though it is floating above the image
Label should never exceed the space available. Do not let them simply float off the page, and label text should not end in ellipsis, etc. Avoid wrapping to a second line. Multiple lines ore okay (try not to exceed 2) but each line should have its own info.
Can have icons & so on w/ the text, but only allow one select item. No links (underlines), buttons, etc. If needed, to clarify the click action, a false button (or link) can be added to the area, as it might be used in a banner ad,
Antipatterns