Providing enhanced functionality in an interactive electronic technical manual

An apparatus for generating an annotation for at least one of textual information or a graphical image for technical documentation for an item in an interactive electronic technical manual system (IETM) configured to provide electronic and credentialed access to the technical documentation for the item, the apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including a computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:

• provide a first sign-in window for display, the first sign-in window comprising an electronic form configured for display via a first IETM viewer executing on a first user computing entity being used by a first user, wherein (a) the first user provides (i) input of a selection of a dataset, (ii) input of a selection of a unit displayed for a selectable unit field, and (iii) input of a selection of an object displayed fora selectable object field, and (b) a sign-in mechanism authenticates and signs the first user into the IETM based at least in part on a first user credential, the dataset, the selection of the unit displayed, and the selection of the object displayed;
• provide an IETM window configured for display via the first IETM viewer, the IETM window displaying at least one of the textual information or a graphical image;
• receive input of a selection of an annotation selection mechanism provided via the IETM window;
• responsive to receiving the input of the selection of the annotation selection mechanism provided via the IETM window, provide an annotation window, for annotating at least one of the textual information or the graphical image, wherein the annotation window comprises at least one of an attach file mechanism, an image capture mechanism, a share mechanism, or a change request mechanism;
• receive input of a selection of a change form mechanism, wherein the selection of the change form mechanism is performed by the first user via the first IETM viewer;
• and
• responsive to receiving the input of the selection of the change form mechanism:
• provide an electronic change form comprising a plurality of fields for display via the first IETM viewer;
• pre-populate at least one field of the plurality of fields on the electronic change form based at least in part on information provided in the annotation;
• and
• submit a request for change to at least one of the textual information or the graphical image based at least in part on information provided on the change form mechanism.

A non-transitory computer storage medium comprising instructions for generating an annotation for at least one of textual information or a graphical image for technical documentation for an item in an interactive electronic technical manual system (IETM) configured to provide electronic and credentialed access to the technical documentation for the item, the instructions being configured to cause one or more processors to at least perform operations configured to:

• provide a first sign-in window for display, the first sign-in window comprising an electronic form configured for display via a first IETM viewer executing on a first user computing entity being used by a first user, wherein (a) the first user provides (i) input of a selection of a dataset, (ii) input of a selection of a unit displayed for a selectable unit field, and (iii) input of a selection of an object displayed fora selectable object field, and (b) a sign-in mechanism authenticates and signs the first user into the IETM based at least in part on a first user credential, the dataset, the selection of the unit displayed, and the selection of the object displayed;
• provide an IETM window configured for display via the first IETM viewer, the IETM window displaying at least one of the textual information or a graphical image;
• receive input of a selection of an annotation selection mechanism provided via the IETM window;
• responsive to receiving the input of the selection of the annotation selection mechanism provided via the IETM window, provide an annotation window, for annotating at least one of the textual information or the graphical image, wherein the annotation window comprises at least one of an attach file mechanism, an image capture mechanism, a share mechanism, or a change request mechanism;
• receive input of a selection of a change form mechanism, wherein the selection of the change form mechanism is performed by the first user via the first IETM viewer;
• and
• responsive to receiving the input of the selection of the change form mechanism:
• provide an electronic change form comprising a plurality of fields for display via the first IETM viewer;
• pre-populate at least one field of the plurality of fields on the electronic change form based at least in part on information provided in the annotation;
• and
• submit a request for change to at least one of the textual information or the graphical image based at least in part on information provided on the change form mechanism.