A Violation of Fitts’ Law is Maintained in Ecologically Valid Settings

Abstract

A ‘violation’ of Fitts’ Law, or Fitts’ Equation, occurs when each potential target location is outlined before and during a reaching movement. Past studies have measured the violation in highly controlled laboratory environments, limiting the generalizability of findings. The purpose of the study was to replicate the violation of Fitts’ Equation in the homes of participants using a novel portable apparatus during the COVID-19 pandemic. Movements were measured independently with an accelerometer and touch screen, which allowed for kinematic, temporal, and spatial outcomes to be measured in remote environments. The violation of Fitts’ Equation was found with the touch and acceleration measurements and was thus seen in ecologically valid environments. The apparatus used may be used as a model for future field research.

Keywords:

• Fitts’s Law
• kinematic analysis
• manual aiming
• wearable electronic devices

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors would like to thank the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council for providing funding which supported this study. The authors are would also like to express their gratitude towards the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and IG Wealth Management for providing scholarships which supported an author during the time this study was conducted.

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

Raw data were generated at the University of Manitoba. Derived data supporting the findings of this study are available from the author SP on request.

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council under Grant [2020-06257]. Scholarships provided by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and IG Wealth Management supported an author during the time this work was conducted.