SHO

Technology

What is SHO Technology?

Transcensus' patent-pending Scripted Human Operator™ (SHO) technology is an exciting innovation in software performance support and user assistance. SHO technology allows content developers to create truly interactive software instructional, assistance and support content that interfaces directly with any Windows software application. No programming knowledge is required. The content is delivered directly inside the software application the user is attempting to use, instead of a browser, simulation window or other external training interface. In other words, the actual software application is the training interface.

The SHO Platform, which is based on the Scripted Human Operator technology, is an advanced content delivery engine for software instruction, performance support and user assistance. The SHO Engine can be thought of as a virtual instructor or tutor looking over the user's shoulder and offering step-by-step guidance inside the actual software application the user is attempting to use.

SHO Engine vs. Simulation - Improving on the State of the Art

Simulation, generally considered current state of the art in interactive forms of software performance support, is an approach to instruction and user assistance that is designed to make the learning experience more interactive than traditional presentations by simulating, or re-creating, certain types of software interactions, such as menu selections and button clicks, in a separate window that looks like the software application the user is attempting to learn. For example, a user wishing to learn Microsoft Excel will work in a window that simulates the Excel interface and mimics some of the behaviors of Excel, but is not actually Excel.

The SHO Engine takes software instruction beyond simulation to true business process emulation. The instructional content guides the user through interactions and workflows within the actual software application, instead of simulating that interaction in a separate window. In other words, the user learns by doing real work inside the real software application using instructional and assistance material that is completely integrated into the application workflow.

Benefits of SHO Engine Over Simulation

The SHO Engine provides many benefits over simulation, including the following:

	SHO Engine	Simulation
Window Integration	User is guided while working inside the actual software application by performing real interactions with the software application instead of simulated interaction.	User works in a separate simulation window and must figure out how to apply what was done in the simulation window to the actual software application. The learning environment is disconnected from actual software application.
Real Data	User creates real data during the learning or guidance process.	User does not create real data during the learning process. Any "data" created in the simulation window is lost once the simulation ends.
Dynamic Data	Does not rely on video, animation or screen capture, so visual presentations are dynamic and can adjust to the current appearance and position of the software application and its interface components (toolbars, dialog boxes, etc).	Creates static visual presentations of software interfaces that do not adjust to user-defined configurations (toolbar and dialog box placement, interface settings, etc.).
Viability	Majority of content remains viable across new versions of the software application, resulting in longer content shelf life.	Visual presentation must be updated with each new version of the software application.
Localized Content	Visual presentation is language neutral to allow for easy localization.	Visual presentation is static and language specific and must be recaptured for other languages.
Verification	Provides intelligent verification of how the user is using the software inside the actual software application.	Verifies user interactions with the simulation window only.
Usability	Eliminates the need to switch back and forth between the software application and a training or simulation window and the need to resize windows in order to display a separate simulation window.	User must switch back and forth between the software application and the simulation window and must adjust window sizes to display both the actual software application and the simulation window.