On a website I have a map-like gizmo and list-like object. Both has their controls - the map has a google-map-like zoom giozmo and the list has simplified scroll bar. But both can be navigated using the mouse wheel once the mouse hovers over the object.
(mock-up image)
The problem is that for most users it is not obvious that they can use the mouse wheel to interact with the objects. It is probably the result of a broken convention where mouse wheel scrolling doesn't work as it should across all browsers and technologies (Flash?).
How can I make it obvious to the users that they can use mouse wheel to interact with the objects?
- make a mouse wheel icon blink briefly over the map and list?
- auto-move the map and list slightly every time the website loads for the first time?
- any other ideas?