SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ENHANCING CONVEYED USER INFORMATION RELATING TO SYMBOLS IN A GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE

A system and method are provided, for use with a computer graphical user interface (GUI) system, for giving the user help information associated with displayed symbols, such as icons representing data objects, applications, etc. For a given icon or other symbol, a plurality of different images are provided. When help is invoked, such as in response to a user moving the display cursor onto the icon, the plurality of help images are displayed. The images may represent a sequence of actions the user is to take, in order to make use of the object represented by the icon. The images are then displayed in time sequence. The images may then include reminder images of what had taken place prior to the image currently being displayed. Alternatively, the images may represent a set of alternative uses to which the user may put the object. In this case, the images may also be displayed one at a time, for a given duration each, or may be displayed simultaneously, around the perimeter of the icon or otherwise near the icon, to allow the user to observe and choose from among the alternatives.