Acquisition Speed with Targets on the Edge of the Screen: An Application of Fitts' Law to Commonly Used Web Browser Controls
- 1 October 2001
- journal article
- Published by SAGE Publications in Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting
- Vol. 45 (15) , 1205-1209
- https://doi.org/10.1177/154193120104501511
Abstract
According to Fitts' law, the time to acquire a target can be reduced by either reducing the target's distance or increasing its size. Tognazzini (1999) proposed that the time to acquire a target on graphical user interfaces could be reduced further by moving targets to the edge of the screen (i.e., edge targets). Two studies tested these predictions with a web browser interface's back-button (Experiment 1) and scroll bar (Experiment 2). Results support the aforementioned hypotheses. Edge targets were always faster to acquire than targets placed one pixel from the edge of the screen. However, within the constraints of the current studies, this speed advantage is maximal at approximately 393 ms for target heights ≥ 2.00 cm and target distances ≥ 11.75 cm. Design recommendations and a cost/benefit analysis are given.This publication has 4 references indexed in Scilit:
- Movement Time Prediction in Human-Computer InterfacesPublished by Elsevier ,1995
- Comparison of Six Cursor Control Devices Based on Fitts' Law ModelsProceedings of the Human Factors Society Annual Meeting, 1986
- Evaluation of Mouse, Rate-Controlled Isometric Joystick, Step Keys, and Text Keys for Text Selection on a CRTErgonomics, 1978
- The information capacity of the human motor system in controlling the amplitude of movement.Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1954