System for interactive help

A method for the provision of interactive assistance over a network for a user to complete a desired computing task on a user computing device, the method comprising:

• generating a plurality of task-guides comprising a sequence of processes, each of said processes operable on a plurality of computing platforms and comprising at least one action for said user to perform in association with at least one graphical user interface (GUI) object displayed on a user computing device;
• receiving from a user computing device a task-assistance request over said network;
• receiving information about at least one computing environment of said user computing device over said network;
• sending at least one task-guide of said plurality of task guides corresponding to:
• 1) said task-assistance request, and, 2) said at least one computing environment of said user computing device, to said user computing device over said network;
• said at least one task-guide presenting a sequence of processes in accordance with information about said at least one GUI object displayed on said user computing device;
• and,
• selecting a data gathering technique for obtaining said information about said at least one GUI object displayed on said user computing device, said at least one data gathering technique selected for obtaining said information about said at least one GUI object, over said network, while said at least one task guide is operating on said user computer.