March 17, 2023
Tapping Into User-Friendly Design: Tips for Creating Touch Targets
Overview
As designers, we know that the progress of a flow within a product is heavily influenced by touch targets, which are one of the most significant and complicated parts of any user experience. Touch targets are the interactive elements that users tap, swipe, or click on to interact with a product, and they play a crucial role in shaping the user's journey. To further navigate the complexity of touch targets, designers must keep two crucial pieces of information in mind.
First, the size and position of touch targets should be large enough for users to accurately select them, regardless of the input method they are using. With the wide range of input methods available today, including mouse, finger, keypad, and others, it's important to consider the different precision ranges required for each method. This means that designers must ensure that touch targets are large enough to be accurately selected with any of these input methods, while still fitting within the overall design scheme of the product.
Secondly, the visual affordances of touch targets should be designed in a way that makes them easily distinguishable from other elements on the screen. This can be achieved through the use of colour, shape, or other visual cues that make touch targets stand out from the surrounding elements.
Fitts's Law, which dates back to 1954, is a principle that predicts the time required to rapidly move to a target area is a function of the ratio between the distance to the target and the width of the target. In other words, the closer and larger the target area is, the easier it is for users to accurately and quickly select it. This principle has important implications for designers, as it underscores the importance of designing touch targets that are both large and easily accessible to users. By adhering to Fitts's Law, we can ensure that users have a seamless and efficient experience with our products, and that they are able to quickly and accurately complete the tasks they need to. So let's keep Fitts's Law in mind as we design touch targets, and create user experiences that are both intuitive and efficient!
Example
Placement of touch targets is key, placing them in regions that are difficult to reach, will in turn make it harder to select. for example, on smartphones, it can be challenging to determine the hard-to-reach areas of the screen, as it varies depending on how users hold their device and what task they are performing. In one-handed use, users often rely on their thumb to select items, making certain areas of the screen more difficult to reach than others. However, research shows that users tend to focus on the centre of the screen, where accuracy is the highest. According to Steven Hoober's research, people also tend to scan the centre of the screen, rather than following the conventional top-left to bottom-right scanning pattern seen on desktop devices.
These findings have important implications for designers, who must consider the nuances of different devices and contexts when designing touch targets. By taking into account the unique characteristics of each device and designing touch targets that are easily accessible and accurately selectable, we can create a user experience that is both intuitive and efficient.
Conclusion
As designers, it is essential to create interfaces that enhance human capabilities and experiences, rather than distracting from them. This is especially important in mobile interfaces, where limited screen real estate makes it challenging to design touch targets that are easily selectable. To overcome this challenge, we must ensure that interactive elements are large enough for users to discern them and accurately select them. Additionally, providing ample space between controls can help prevent accidental selection of adjacent actions. Finally, placing touch targets in areas of the interface that are easily accessible and within reach of the user's fingers or thumb can improve the overall usability of the interface. By following these guidelines and considering the unique characteristics of each device and context, designers can create interfaces that are intuitive and easy to use, enhancing the user experience and increasing overall engagement with the product.
March 17, 2023
Tapping Into User-Friendly Design: Tips for Creating Touch Targets
Overview
As designers, we know that the progress of a flow within a product is heavily influenced by touch targets, which are one of the most significant and complicated parts of any user experience. Touch targets are the interactive elements that users tap, swipe, or click on to interact with a product, and they play a crucial role in shaping the user's journey. To further navigate the complexity of touch targets, designers must keep two crucial pieces of information in mind.
First, the size and position of touch targets should be large enough for users to accurately select them, regardless of the input method they are using. With the wide range of input methods available today, including mouse, finger, keypad, and others, it's important to consider the different precision ranges required for each method. This means that designers must ensure that touch targets are large enough to be accurately selected with any of these input methods, while still fitting within the overall design scheme of the product.
Secondly, the visual affordances of touch targets should be designed in a way that makes them easily distinguishable from other elements on the screen. This can be achieved through the use of colour, shape, or other visual cues that make touch targets stand out from the surrounding elements.
Fitts's Law, which dates back to 1954, is a principle that predicts the time required to rapidly move to a target area is a function of the ratio between the distance to the target and the width of the target. In other words, the closer and larger the target area is, the easier it is for users to accurately and quickly select it. This principle has important implications for designers, as it underscores the importance of designing touch targets that are both large and easily accessible to users. By adhering to Fitts's Law, we can ensure that users have a seamless and efficient experience with our products, and that they are able to quickly and accurately complete the tasks they need to. So let's keep Fitts's Law in mind as we design touch targets, and create user experiences that are both intuitive and efficient!
Example
Placement of touch targets is key, placing them in regions that are difficult to reach, will in turn make it harder to select. for example, on smartphones, it can be challenging to determine the hard-to-reach areas of the screen, as it varies depending on how users hold their device and what task they are performing. In one-handed use, users often rely on their thumb to select items, making certain areas of the screen more difficult to reach than others. However, research shows that users tend to focus on the centre of the screen, where accuracy is the highest. According to Steven Hoober's research, people also tend to scan the centre of the screen, rather than following the conventional top-left to bottom-right scanning pattern seen on desktop devices.
These findings have important implications for designers, who must consider the nuances of different devices and contexts when designing touch targets. By taking into account the unique characteristics of each device and designing touch targets that are easily accessible and accurately selectable, we can create a user experience that is both intuitive and efficient.
Conclusion
As designers, it is essential to create interfaces that enhance human capabilities and experiences, rather than distracting from them. This is especially important in mobile interfaces, where limited screen real estate makes it challenging to design touch targets that are easily selectable. To overcome this challenge, we must ensure that interactive elements are large enough for users to discern them and accurately select them. Additionally, providing ample space between controls can help prevent accidental selection of adjacent actions. Finally, placing touch targets in areas of the interface that are easily accessible and within reach of the user's fingers or thumb can improve the overall usability of the interface. By following these guidelines and considering the unique characteristics of each device and context, designers can create interfaces that are intuitive and easy to use, enhancing the user experience and increasing overall engagement with the product.
March 17, 2023
Tapping Into User-Friendly Design: Tips for Creating Touch Targets
Overview
As designers, we know that the progress of a flow within a product is heavily influenced by touch targets, which are one of the most significant and complicated parts of any user experience. Touch targets are the interactive elements that users tap, swipe, or click on to interact with a product, and they play a crucial role in shaping the user's journey. To further navigate the complexity of touch targets, designers must keep two crucial pieces of information in mind.
First, the size and position of touch targets should be large enough for users to accurately select them, regardless of the input method they are using. With the wide range of input methods available today, including mouse, finger, keypad, and others, it's important to consider the different precision ranges required for each method. This means that designers must ensure that touch targets are large enough to be accurately selected with any of these input methods, while still fitting within the overall design scheme of the product.
Secondly, the visual affordances of touch targets should be designed in a way that makes them easily distinguishable from other elements on the screen. This can be achieved through the use of colour, shape, or other visual cues that make touch targets stand out from the surrounding elements.
Fitts's Law, which dates back to 1954, is a principle that predicts the time required to rapidly move to a target area is a function of the ratio between the distance to the target and the width of the target. In other words, the closer and larger the target area is, the easier it is for users to accurately and quickly select it. This principle has important implications for designers, as it underscores the importance of designing touch targets that are both large and easily accessible to users. By adhering to Fitts's Law, we can ensure that users have a seamless and efficient experience with our products, and that they are able to quickly and accurately complete the tasks they need to. So let's keep Fitts's Law in mind as we design touch targets, and create user experiences that are both intuitive and efficient!
Example
Placement of touch targets is key, placing them in regions that are difficult to reach, will in turn make it harder to select. for example, on smartphones, it can be challenging to determine the hard-to-reach areas of the screen, as it varies depending on how users hold their device and what task they are performing. In one-handed use, users often rely on their thumb to select items, making certain areas of the screen more difficult to reach than others. However, research shows that users tend to focus on the centre of the screen, where accuracy is the highest. According to Steven Hoober's research, people also tend to scan the centre of the screen, rather than following the conventional top-left to bottom-right scanning pattern seen on desktop devices.
These findings have important implications for designers, who must consider the nuances of different devices and contexts when designing touch targets. By taking into account the unique characteristics of each device and designing touch targets that are easily accessible and accurately selectable, we can create a user experience that is both intuitive and efficient.
Conclusion
As designers, it is essential to create interfaces that enhance human capabilities and experiences, rather than distracting from them. This is especially important in mobile interfaces, where limited screen real estate makes it challenging to design touch targets that are easily selectable. To overcome this challenge, we must ensure that interactive elements are large enough for users to discern them and accurately select them. Additionally, providing ample space between controls can help prevent accidental selection of adjacent actions. Finally, placing touch targets in areas of the interface that are easily accessible and within reach of the user's fingers or thumb can improve the overall usability of the interface. By following these guidelines and considering the unique characteristics of each device and context, designers can create interfaces that are intuitive and easy to use, enhancing the user experience and increasing overall engagement with the product.
March 17, 2023
Tapping Into User-Friendly Design: Tips for Creating Touch Targets
Overview
As designers, we know that the progress of a flow within a product is heavily influenced by touch targets, which are one of the most significant and complicated parts of any user experience. Touch targets are the interactive elements that users tap, swipe, or click on to interact with a product, and they play a crucial role in shaping the user's journey. To further navigate the complexity of touch targets, designers must keep two crucial pieces of information in mind.
First, the size and position of touch targets should be large enough for users to accurately select them, regardless of the input method they are using. With the wide range of input methods available today, including mouse, finger, keypad, and others, it's important to consider the different precision ranges required for each method. This means that designers must ensure that touch targets are large enough to be accurately selected with any of these input methods, while still fitting within the overall design scheme of the product.
Secondly, the visual affordances of touch targets should be designed in a way that makes them easily distinguishable from other elements on the screen. This can be achieved through the use of colour, shape, or other visual cues that make touch targets stand out from the surrounding elements.
Fitts's Law, which dates back to 1954, is a principle that predicts the time required to rapidly move to a target area is a function of the ratio between the distance to the target and the width of the target. In other words, the closer and larger the target area is, the easier it is for users to accurately and quickly select it. This principle has important implications for designers, as it underscores the importance of designing touch targets that are both large and easily accessible to users. By adhering to Fitts's Law, we can ensure that users have a seamless and efficient experience with our products, and that they are able to quickly and accurately complete the tasks they need to. So let's keep Fitts's Law in mind as we design touch targets, and create user experiences that are both intuitive and efficient!
Example
Placement of touch targets is key, placing them in regions that are difficult to reach, will in turn make it harder to select. for example, on smartphones, it can be challenging to determine the hard-to-reach areas of the screen, as it varies depending on how users hold their device and what task they are performing. In one-handed use, users often rely on their thumb to select items, making certain areas of the screen more difficult to reach than others. However, research shows that users tend to focus on the centre of the screen, where accuracy is the highest. According to Steven Hoober's research, people also tend to scan the centre of the screen, rather than following the conventional top-left to bottom-right scanning pattern seen on desktop devices.
These findings have important implications for designers, who must consider the nuances of different devices and contexts when designing touch targets. By taking into account the unique characteristics of each device and designing touch targets that are easily accessible and accurately selectable, we can create a user experience that is both intuitive and efficient.
Conclusion
As designers, it is essential to create interfaces that enhance human capabilities and experiences, rather than distracting from them. This is especially important in mobile interfaces, where limited screen real estate makes it challenging to design touch targets that are easily selectable. To overcome this challenge, we must ensure that interactive elements are large enough for users to discern them and accurately select them. Additionally, providing ample space between controls can help prevent accidental selection of adjacent actions. Finally, placing touch targets in areas of the interface that are easily accessible and within reach of the user's fingers or thumb can improve the overall usability of the interface. By following these guidelines and considering the unique characteristics of each device and context, designers can create interfaces that are intuitive and easy to use, enhancing the user experience and increasing overall engagement with the product.
