Browser Extension for Automated Digital Guidance Testing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for digital guidance content in software applications are cumbersome and error-prone, especially when new content is added or the application is updated, requiring time-consuming manual testing and often necessitating public network access.
Innovation Solution
A browser extension that records and tests digital guidance content automatically, allowing testing on multiple browsers simultaneously, including those on closed networks, reducing the burden on content creators and eliminating the need for public network access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual testing of digital guidance content is performed, then testing can be conducted on closed networks, but the process becomes time-consuming and labor-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service automated testing where the testing system automatically executes test cases against digital guidance content without requiring manual intervention. The browser extension autonomously navigates through the application, validates guidance content, and generates test reports, eliminating the need for manual testing while maintaining support for closed network environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical testing processes with an automated electronic testing system. A browser extension with automated testing logic substitutes human testers, using scripts and algorithms to systematically validate guidance content. This mechanical-to-automated substitution dramatically reduces testing time while preserving the ability to test on closed networks where the application resides.
2Productivity
If centralized testing system on public server is used, then automated testing is achieved, but the application must be accessible on public network which compromises security
Solution Approach 1:
The testing system is segmented into distributed browser extensions running locally on user machines rather than a centralized public server. Each extension operates independently on the local device, enabling automated testing to occur in distributed locations including closed networks. This segmentation maintains security by keeping testing operations local while preserving automated testing capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The browser extension acts as an intermediary between the testing system and the application on closed networks. It facilitates automated testing by running locally on user devices that can access the application, serving as a bridge that enables testing without requiring direct public network access to the application. This intermediary approach maintains security while enabling automated testing productivity.
3Loss of information
If comprehensive digital guidance content is provided to users, then complete information is available, but users become overwhelmed by the volume of content
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by providing different guidance content to different users based on their specific context, role, and current task within the application. Rather than presenting all guidance content uniformly, the system tailors the information locally to each user's needs, making the guidance more accessible and less overwhelming while maintaining completeness of available information.
Solution Approach 2:
The guidance content delivery is made dynamic, adapting to the user's current state, actions, and progress within the application. The system dynamically determines which guidance content to present based on real-time context, transitioning from static comprehensive content to dynamic contextualized content. This dynamic approach maintains information completeness while improving ease of operation by presenting only relevant guidance at each moment.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided herein are systems and methods for creating, testing and providing digital guidance for use in an underlying computer application. In one exemplary implementation, a method includes using a browser extension to record steps of digital guidance content as the steps are created by a content author, automatically testing the content with the same browser and making the tested content available for playback. The testing may include receiving an execute testing command, fetching test case data from a server, executing a test case in the browser using the test case data, running tests on the test case in a background tab of the browser, recording passes and or failures of the tests, sending reports of the passes and failures to the server, sending a notification to the content author that the testing results are ready to view, and displaying the testing results in the dashboard.