Fitts’ Law In The Touch Era – Smashing Magazine

Rethinking Fitts’ Law for touch interfaces—beyond the mouse and into the mobile era.

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Smashing Magazine

This article, authored by Steven Hoober and published on February 9, 2022, delves into the application of Fitts’ Law in the context of touch-based interfaces. Fitts’ Law, traditionally used to predict the time required to move to a target area, is re-examined for its relevance in modern touchscreen environments. Hoober discusses how factors like target size, screen edges, and user assumptions differ between mouse-driven and touch-based interactions. He emphasizes the importance of questioning established guidelines and adapting them to the nuances of touch interfaces, highlighting that principles effective for mouse interactions may not directly translate to touchscreens. The article encourages designers to critically assess and tailor their approaches to suit the specific needs of touch-based user experiences.