Platform: Web
URL: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/upload
The feature:
Just a help button that, when clicked, pops-up a message explaining non obvious interface functions, i.e. those that are not visible - mouse dragging and keyboard combinations and shortcuts. Something like this (note the blue question mark button, a somewhat standard button for interface help, and the black pop-up message):
Why it is needed:
There’s no obvious way to combine relevant photos into a single observation (except perhaps the Select All->Combine which includes two steps and is limited compared to dragging). This has resulted in a multitude of superfluous observations. Everyone that has done some identification or browsing knows how often photos of single specimens are posted as separate observations. In almost all cases they have been posted via the website.
When asking people to combine or in other discussions, I’ve heard (paraphrased by memory):
“I tried to put them in one observation but couldn’t do it”
“I didn’t know I could drag them”
“Oh, that multiple selection is cool, I didn’t know about it!”
etc…
Even a tutorial has been created to deal with the multitude of such observations:
https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/how-to-turn-multiple-observations-into-a-single-observation/9838
This simple help button should reduce the number of such superfluous observations, reduce the frustration of users and make their editing more informed and efficient - by providing a visible help button to explain the invisible.