talk-buddy

Home Dashboard

The Home Dashboard is your central hub in Talk Buddy. It provides quick access to recent content, key actions, and an overview of your learning progress.

Dashboard Overview

When you open Talk Buddy or click “Home” in the sidebar, you’ll see:

Header Section

• Welcome Message: Personalized greeting
• Quick Start Button: Jump into a random practice session
• Browse Scenarios Button: Explore available scenarios

Main Content Areas

Recent Scenarios (Left Panel)

• Purpose: Shows your 5 most recently updated scenarios
• Quick Access: Click any scenario to start practicing immediately
• Details Shown:
  • Scenario name and description
  • Difficulty level (Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced)
  • Estimated duration in minutes
• Empty State: If no scenarios exist, shows option to create your first scenario

Practice Packs (Right Panel)

• Purpose: Displays your 3 most recently updated practice packs
• Quick Access: Click any pack to view its contents and start structured practice
• Details Shown:
  • Pack name and description
  • Color-coded indicators for easy identification
• Empty State: If no packs exist, shows option to create your first pack

Key Features

Quick Start Button

Location: Center of the welcome section Function: Instantly starts a practice session with a randomly selected scenario Best For:

• Quick practice when you have limited time
• Exploring different scenarios
• Breaking out of routine by trying something new

How it works:

1. Selects a random scenario from your available content
2. Creates a new standalone session
3. Launches directly into conversation mode

Browse Scenarios Button

Location: Next to Quick Start button Function: Takes you to the full Scenarios page Best For:

• Choosing a specific scenario to practice
• Browsing available content
• Managing your scenario collection

Recent Content Interaction

Scenario Cards

Each recent scenario shows:

• Clickable Area: Click anywhere on the card to start a session
• Scenario Name: Large, clear title
• Description: Brief summary of what you’ll practice
• Metadata: Difficulty and duration at the bottom

Practice Pack Cards

Each practice pack shows:

• Clickable Area: Click to view pack contents
• Color Indicator: Small colored square for visual identification
• Pack Name: Clear title
• Description: Summary of the pack’s focus area

Navigation from Dashboard

Primary Navigation

• Sidebar Menu: Always visible on the left for accessing other areas
• Recent Content: Direct access to your most-used scenarios and packs
• Action Buttons: Quick Start and Browse Scenarios for immediate action

Quick Actions Available

1. Start Random Practice: Quick Start button
2. Browse All Scenarios: Browse Scenarios button
3. Access Recent Scenarios: Click any scenario card
4. View Practice Packs: Click any pack card
5. Navigate to Any Section: Use sidebar menu

Customizing Your Dashboard Experience

Influencing Recent Content

The “recent” sections update based on:

• Scenarios: Last updated date (creating, editing scenarios)
• Practice Packs: Last updated date (creating, modifying packs)
• Usage: Content you interact with moves up in recency

Maximizing Dashboard Efficiency

• Use Quick Start when you want immediate practice
• Check Recent Scenarios for content you’ve been working on
• Review Practice Packs for structured learning sessions
• Keep scenarios updated to maintain relevant recent content

Empty State Guidance

When You First Open Talk Buddy

If this is your first time using Talk Buddy:

Recent Scenarios Section:

• Shows default scenarios that come with Talk Buddy
• Displays “No scenarios yet” if defaults aren’t loaded
• Provides “Create your first scenario” button

Practice Packs Section:

• Shows “No practice packs yet” message
• Provides “Create your first pack” button
• Links to the Practice Packs page

Getting Started Actions

1. Try a Default Scenario: Use Quick Start to experience Talk Buddy
2. Create Your First Scenario: Click the create button to design custom content
3. Import Content: If you have exported scenarios or packs to import

Dashboard Tips and Best Practices

For New Users

• Start with Quick Start: Get immediate experience with the app
• Explore default scenarios: Understand different types of practice available
• Try different difficulty levels: Start with Beginner, work up to Advanced

For Regular Users

• Use Recent Scenarios: Quickly access content you’re actively working on
• Monitor Practice Packs: Keep track of structured learning progress
• Quick Start for variety: Break routine with random scenario selection

For Power Users

• Dashboard as launch pad: Use for quick access, then navigate to specific sections
• Recent content monitoring: See what content is most actively used
• Efficient workflow: Dashboard → Recent Content → Direct practice

Accessibility Features

Keyboard Navigation

• Tab through elements: Navigate using Tab key
• Enter to activate: Press Enter on focused buttons or cards
• Escape to sidebar: Use Esc to focus on sidebar navigation

Visual Indicators

• Color coding: Practice packs use color indicators for easy recognition
• Clear hierarchy: Text sizes and spacing indicate importance
• Hover states: Visual feedback when you hover over interactive elements

Troubleshooting Dashboard Issues

Content Not Showing

Recent Scenarios Empty:

• Check if you have any scenarios created
• Verify scenarios aren’t all archived
• Try creating or importing scenarios

Practice Packs Empty:

• Confirm you’ve created practice packs
• Check if packs are archived
• Create a new pack to populate the section

Quick Start Not Working

• Ensure you have at least one active (non-archived) scenario
• Check that scenarios aren’t corrupted (try viewing one individually)
• Restart Talk Buddy if the issue persists

Performance Issues

• Slow loading: Check if you have many scenarios (consider archiving old ones)
• Outdated content: Refresh by navigating away and back to Home
• System resources: Close other applications if Talk Buddy seems sluggish

Related Features

Connected to Dashboard

• Scenarios Page: Full scenario management
• Practice Packs Page: Complete pack organization
• Session History: Review past practice sessions

Workflow Integration

• Dashboard → Scenario → Session → History: Complete practice workflow
• Dashboard → Pack → Structured Practice: Organized learning path
• Dashboard → Settings: Configure for optimal experience

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The Dashboard is designed to get you practicing quickly. Use it as your launchpad for effective conversation practice! 🚀

Next: Scenarios Page Guide →