Improving Discoverability of New Functionality : Evaluating User Onboarding Elements and Embedded User Assistance for Highlighting New Features in a PACS

Abstract: The aim of this study was to explore if users of a Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) could benefit from User Onboarding elements and Embedded User Assistance (EUA) to discover and learn about new functionality within the system. Five sub-questions, related to perceived intrusiveness, intuitiveness, helpfulness and persuasion, as well as the need to guide users to nested functionality, were explored as well to help answer the research question. Through a combined Research through Design and Case Study approach the study resulted in a design process with four phases; Exploration, Concepting, Prototyping and Evaluation. After initial exploration and assessments, one concept was implemented in an interactive Figma prototype of the PACS. This prototype was tested and evaluated by users as well as an expert group using the Cognitive Walkthrough method. Overall positive feedback about the usefulness and intuitiveness of the suggested design proposal was found. The results suggest that implementing onboarding elements, such as highlighting features and interactive tooltips, could be a good approach to offer EUA in a PACS to help users discover and learn about new functionality. Further elaboration of the results, important considerations and suggestions regarding future implementation in a live system is discussed in greater detail in the report.