Assessing Human Mobile Computing Performance by Fitts' Law

Abstract

This chapter describes the interdependence between locomotion while walking and human input performance in mobile Human-Computer- Interaction (HCI). For the analysis of the interdependence, appropriate performance measures, for example, subjective workload ratings or error rate, have to be applied. The way in which Fitts’ law can enhance the analysis is explained. In an experiment with n=18 participants, the general indices of performance (bits per second) were measured while standing and walking with constant speed (2, 3.5, 5 km/h). Results show a significant increase of the error rate and a significant decrease of the index of performance for increased walking speed. Subsequent regression analyses allow quantitative estimation of these effects. The results show a division of the interdependence in two parts, based on the difficulty of the input task; they define threshold values for accuracy of user input. These values can be applied for the implementation and design of future Graphical User Interfaces (GUI) for mobile devices.