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Sometimes users fail to notice a change that just took place
on their display. For example, the user may have accidentally
deleted an icon or a remote collaborator may have
changed settings in a control panel. Animated transitions
can help, but they force users to wait for the animation to
complete. This can be cumbersome, especially in situations
where users did not need an explanation. We propose a
different approach. Phosphor objects show the outcome of
their transition instantly; at the same time they explain their
change in retrospect. Manipulating a phosphor slider, for
example, leaves an afterglow that illustrates how the knob
moved. The parallelism of instant outcome and explanation
supports both types of users. Users who already understood
the transition can continue interacting without delay, while
those who are inexperienced or may have been distracted
can take time to view the effects at their own pace. We present
a framework of transition designs for widgets, icons,
and objects in drawing programs. We evaluate phosphor
objects in two user studies and report significant performance
benefits for phosphor objects.