Tablet Interaction Accuracy and Precision: Seated vs. Walking. (September 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hayes, Sean T.; Hooten, Eli R.; Adams, Julie A.
• Is Part Of: Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society ... Annual Meeting. Volume 58:Part 1(2014)
• Page Start: 432
• Page End: 436
• Publication Date: 2014-09
• Subjects: Human engineering -- Congresses; 620.8205
• DOI: 10.1177/1541931214581090
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1541-9312

Abstract

Smart phone and tablet mobile devices have changed the way individuals interact with computers. Users can complete tasks efficiently "on the go" using a mobile device's touch screen; therefore, it is important to investigate touch interaction as it pertains to a mobile (i.e., walking) user. A user evaluation was conducted using a tablet to present a target selection task within a map-based interface. Participants interacted with the mobile device while seated or while walking in an uncontrolled indoor environment. As expected, the mobile target selection error is significantly higher for the mobile users; thus requiring the targets' effective widths to be significantly larger for mobile users. A primary contribution of this paper is a recommended target width model for mobile users. A further contribution finds that target selection offsets with tablets are consistent with those of mobile phones, in spite of differences in form factor and finger used.