In-situ Highlighting

In-situ highlighting is a tutorial technique that overlays visual indicators directly on the live application interface to show the user exactly where to tap, look, or interact next - rather than describing the action in a separate text or video tutorial. Common implementations include spotlight overlays that dim everything except the target element, coach-marks, animated arrows, and pulsing outlines. For users with cognitive decline, low vision, or limited experience with an app, in-situ highlighting eliminates the visual-search step of mapping written instructions onto the interface, a step that research shows many older adults fail at despite reading the instructions correctly.