Survey Results

Division of majors:

• Physics: 2
• Computer Science: 5
• Psychology: 3
• English: 1
• Math: 2
• Chemistry: 2

Computer Experience:

• 1: 1
• 2:
• 3: 11
• 4: 1
• 5: 1

Kinds of paper annotations/markings: write down important points, keep notes on a separate piece of paper, highlight lines, underline sections, write comments/questions in margin, draw question marks near confusing areas, and write exclamation points or astericks by important stuff.

Was it easy to understand?

• Sort of, but:
  • It didn't take too long to figure it out, but detailed instructions would be helpful.
  • I didn't know how to open the "reply tree" until I asked
  • reply tree again
  • I didn't understand the difference between the textboxes for "annotated text" and "annotation".

Ease of use:

• Sort of, but:
  • Cut and paste annotated text is annoying
  • I didn't know how to annotated pictures
  • It would be nice if the annotation buttons ("Add" and "Search") could stay on the screen so I can annotate the middle of a long page without scrolling back. (Sounds like a frame)
  • I didn't know how to "paste" the text into the annotation window (the menu was missing).

Dislikes:

• Help page is needed. Screen captures showing every step of the way would be nice.
• It didn't work with some pages (e.g., Hotmail).
• There were a lot of yellow arrows on some pages...I imagine it would increase as more people used it too.
• If there is a link in the annotation window, it opens in that window. I'd like it to open in the original window. (FIXED)
• When you click on the "Add" button or the arrow to view an annotation, that window should come to the top. (FIXED)
• There should be a toggle for adding the arrows, because if there were a lot of annotations, it would be messy.

Pop-up window:

• The user should be able to change the color, font and look.

Other suggestions on how to implement the annotation system:

• Adding annotations: Highlight text and right click to get a menu. Then choose annotate.
• Put a list of annotations on the page - maybe in the margin or at the bottom.
• You should be able to turn the annotations on and off (maybe a button on the netscape menu by the "Back" and "Reload" buttons). When it is on, you see the arrows and the "Add/Search" buttons.
• Change the annotated text a different color, instead of putting in arrows.
• Highlight the text and then click add. It would automatically annotate the text that was highlighted.