whenhelps

Whenhelps is a term used in information design and human-computer interaction to describe systems that provide targeted assistance at the moment it is needed by a user. It emphasizes timing and relevance, delivering help based on user actions, context, and observed difficulty rather than a static help menu.

Origin and usage: The term emerged in discussions of contextual or just-in-time help in the 2010s and 2020s; it is not a formal standard but a descriptive label used in research papers and design guidelines. It is often contrasted with traditional help documentation and with proactive, ongoing support.

Applications: Many software products implement whenhelps through contextual tooltips, inline hints, adaptive tutorials, and error-specific guidance that appears after repeated mistakes or failing steps.

Benefits and challenges: Whenhelps can reduce cognitive load, speed task completion, and improve user satisfaction. Challenges include ensuring relevance, avoiding annoyance from excessive prompts, protecting user privacy when collecting contextual data, and preventing help prompts from distracting users.

Relation to other concepts: Whenhelps overlaps with contextual help, just-in-time assistance, and adaptive UX. It is often discussed alongside user modeling and analytics to tailor timing to individual users.