Introduktion inför start : En utvärdering av introduktionsstrategier för att stödja förstagångsanvändning i ett navigationsverktyg för flygsimulatorer

Navigating complex digital tools can be challenging for first-time users, particularly when the application targets a wide range of users. This study explores how in-app onboarding can improve first-time usability and learnability in Navigraph Charts as a case. The application is an advanced navigation tool for flight simulation that includes features such as charts, route planning, and real-time data. By comparing clickstream data from novice and expert users, several areas of usability challenges were identified and further investigated through exploratory usability testing. Results suggested that many issues stemmed from a lack of initial guidance rather than interface flaws alone. Based on these findings, two in-app onboarding variants were developed, grounded in different learning theories, one based on direct instruction and the other on productive failure. A second round of evaluating usability tests revealed that onboarding significantly improved task completion among novice users. While both variants proved effective, each exhibited different strengths and limitations. Which onboarding variant to implement in a similar application depends on the application’s learning objectives, user profile, and complexity. Trade-offs between the variants are further discussed in this study.