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Meet Browser the Cat

Browser is BookWish's friendly feline companion who helps guide you through the app, discover new features, and make the most of your reading experience.

Who Is Browser?​

Browser the Cat is BookWish's virtual assistant and mascot—a curious, bookish cat who loves helping readers navigate the app. Think of Browser as your personal guide who appears at just the right moments to share helpful tips and celebrate your accomplishments.

Browser's Personality​

Browser is:

  • Helpful: Always ready with a tip or suggestion
  • Non-intrusive: Appears only when needed
  • Friendly: Warm, encouraging, and supportive
  • Bookish: Shares Browser's love of reading
  • Playful: Adds a touch of whimsy to your experience

Where You'll See Browser​

Browser appears in various places throughout BookWish, always with helpful guidance:

First Visit Hints​

When you explore a new area of the app for the first time, Browser may pop up to:

  • Introduce you to what you can do on that tab
  • Point out key features you might miss
  • Explain how to get started
  • Share tips for making the most of the feature

Example locations:

  • Wish Tab: When you first visit, Browser explains how to search for books and build your wishlist
  • Share Tab: Browser introduces you to the social feed and how to share your reading
  • Read Tab: Browser helps you discover book clubs and reading challenges

Feature Discovery​

Browser appears when you encounter new features:

  • First time adding a book to your wishlist
  • Before making your first purchase
  • When exploring a new feature or section
  • After you complete certain actions

Contextual Help​

Browser provides contextual assistance based on what you're doing:

  • Empty states: When there's no content yet, Browser suggests what to do next
  • Loading states: Browser keeps you company during longer load times
  • Confirmations: Browser celebrates when you complete important actions
  • Onboarding: Browser guides you through setup and account creation

Browser's Animations​

Browser expresses different moods and states through animated movements. Each animation conveys a different message:

Speaking​

When you'll see it: Most common state when Browser has something to say Visual: Browser appears alert and animated, as if talking to you Context: General tips, feature introductions, helpful hints

Thinking​

When you'll see it: When Browser is "considering" the best advice Visual: Thoughtful, contemplative pose Context: More complex features, decision points, before important actions

Waving​

When you'll see it: Greetings and welcomes Visual: Friendly wave gesture Context: First visits, returning after time away, celebrations

Idle​

When you'll see it: Browser's resting state Visual: Calm, waiting position Context: Background state between messages

Sleeping​

When you'll see it: Rarely, during quiet moments Visual: Peaceful sleeping pose Context: Extended periods without interaction, late-night browsing

Celebration​

When you'll see it: After achievements or milestones Visual: Excited, happy movements Context: Completing challenges, making first purchase, reaching goals

How Browser Helps You​

Onboarding​

When you first join BookWish, Browser:

  • Welcomes you to the platform
  • Explains the main tabs and what you can do
  • Guides you through setting up your profile
  • Suggests your first actions (search for books, follow users, join a club)

Feature Hints​

As you use BookWish, Browser provides "just-in-time" hints:

  • Shows you features you haven't tried yet
  • Explains shortcuts and tips
  • Points out updates and new capabilities
  • Helps you avoid common mistakes

Gentle Reminders​

Browser reminds you about:

  • Unfinished actions (like an incomplete checkout)
  • Features that might help with what you're doing
  • Opportunities to engage (new club discussions, challenge deadlines)
  • Ways to get more out of BookWish

Browser's Hint System​

Browser uses a smart hint system that:

Shows Once​

Browser remembers which hints you've seen and won't repeat them. Each tip appears only once unless you reset your hints (see Hints and Tips).

Appears at the Right Time​

Hints are contextual and timely:

  • Tab hints: When you first visit a tab
  • Action hints: Before you perform important actions
  • Feature hints: When new features become available
  • Situational hints: Based on what you're currently doing

Auto-Dismisses​

Most Browser messages automatically disappear after a few seconds. You can also:

  • Tap anywhere on Browser's message to dismiss it immediately
  • Let it fade out naturally
  • Continue using the app—Browser won't block your way

Browser's Visual Design​

Appearance​

Browser appears as:

  • A Lottie-animated cat character
  • Positioned at the bottom-left of the screen
  • Accompanied by a speech bubble with the hint text
  • Sized to be noticeable but not intrusive (80x80 pixels)

Color Scheme​

Browser fits BookWish's design language:

  • Primary color: Teal Edge (BookWish teal)
  • Speech bubble: Ink Blue background with Parchment text
  • Shadow: Subtle drop shadow for depth
  • Border: Rounded corners matching BookWish's design

Animation Style​

All animations are:

  • Smooth and fluid Lottie animations
  • Lightweight and performant
  • Designed to feel natural and friendly
  • Appropriate for the message being conveyed

When Browser Doesn't Appear​

Browser is designed to be helpful, not annoying. Browser won't appear:

  • During critical tasks or workflows
  • When you've disabled Browser in settings
  • After you've seen a specific hint before
  • During timed or urgent actions
  • When notifications or dialogs are already shown

Browser's Purpose​

The goal of Browser is to:

  1. Reduce learning curve: Help new users understand BookWish faster
  2. Increase feature discovery: Show you capabilities you might not find on your own
  3. Improve engagement: Guide you to the features most valuable to you
  4. Add personality: Make BookWish feel warm and welcoming
  5. Celebrate with you: Share in your reading journey milestones

Browser Across Features​

Browser appears strategically across BookWish:

Wish Tab​

  • How to search for books
  • Adding books to your wishlist
  • Understanding book details
  • Finding local inventory

Share Tab​

  • Posting your first line
  • Engaging with other readers
  • Using likes and replies
  • Following interesting readers

Read Tab​

  • Joining book clubs
  • Participating in reading challenges
  • Tracking your reading progress
  • Connecting with fellow readers

Shop Tab (Premium/Bookstore)​

  • Setting up your store
  • Managing inventory
  • Processing orders
  • Understanding trade-ins

Fun Facts About Browser​

  • Browser's name is a literary reference—browsers are readers who explore casually
  • The character was designed to embody BookWish's values: curiosity, community, and love of reading
  • Browser's animations were created specifically for BookWish
  • Browser is gender-neutral and speaks in a warm, encouraging voice
  • Browser's favorite books are mysteries (naturally, cats are curious!)

Browser's Evolution​

Browser continues to evolve:

  • New animations may be added for special events
  • Hint messages are refined based on user feedback
  • Browser may gain new capabilities in future updates
  • Seasonal variations might appear during holidays

Customizing Browser​

Currently, Browser's appearance and behavior are:

  • Standardized across all users
  • Consistent with BookWish's design language
  • Optimized for the best experience

Future updates may include:

  • Different cat personalities to choose from
  • Seasonal outfits or themes
  • Customizable animation styles
  • More interactive features

Browser and Accessibility​

Browser is designed with accessibility in mind:

  • Messages use clear, readable typography
  • Contrast ratios meet WCAG standards
  • Animations can be disabled via system settings (respects "Reduce Motion")
  • Browser respects screen reader announcements
  • Content is always accessible even when Browser is disabled

Getting to Know Browser​

The best way to get to know Browser is simply to use BookWish! As you explore:

  • Browser will introduce features naturally
  • You'll discover Browser's personality
  • You'll learn which hints are most helpful to you
  • You can always turn Browser off if preferred (see Turning Off Browser)

Browser is here to make your BookWish experience better. Think of Browser as your reading companion—a friendly guide on your literary journey.