Can Java do this?

Hi all!
I was told that Java can be used to develop the following solution. If so, I'm trying to find resources that I can read to learn how this can be done. I want to learn how to fish, not have someone fish for me. :-)

1. Client-installed app monitors a user's activity on a computer by "watching the screen"

2. When a specific page appears, app displays a message that floats over the page

3. If the user minimizes the screen, the app hides the floating message. Alternatively, the floating message moves if the screen is re-sized.

The purpose of this is to provide text instructions that look like they are part of the webpage, but in reality are simply floating over the webpage.

There are other capabilities I'm looking for, but for now, we can start simple.

Thanks in advance, and please let me know if I need to clarify my post.
Micky

Also posted at The java forums. Read Problems with crossposting for why this message is here.

My bad. I didn't realize that the two websites were run by the same group. I thought the registration process looked pretty similar! :)

Javaprogrammingforums and Java-Forums are two separate entities. However, many people are members of both forums.

1. Maybe? It'd be really difficult to tell whether activity happening on the screen is due to user input or due to "automated" processes of certain programs. Also, processing screen-shot images can be time and cpu intensive (particularly for higher screen resolutions).

2. I'm guessing you mean a webpage? If it's your webpage, the easiest way is to program the overlay directly in (via JSP, javascript, PHP, etc.). If it's someone else's website, perhaps the best path to go is to write an "addon" for different web-browsers which will do that by monitoring the address bar.

3. See #2

Another solution is to for-go having to go through the web browser at all and create a Java Swing application with a JEditorPane which is fully capable of rendering a webpage. Then you would have full control of being able to display internal or external "pop-ups" as you wished.

Thank you very much for your response. I will add this to my research list. Little by little, we'll find a solution, because right now, only a small percent of users take the time to navigate to the training section o fthe website, open the quick guide and read the instructions.

It would be so much easier if venders embedded instructions into their apps, but many still rely on the good 'ol mammoth help file! :)