Analysis of cursor movements with a mouse

摘要

With a mouse input device, 32 experienced computer users moved a cursor from a starting position to a target, both of which were displayed simultaneously on the computer’s screen. Cursor movements occurred under conditions of variations in the angle of approach to the target, the target size and shape, the distance to the target, and the nature of the task, drag-drop or point-click. In a fully crossed within-subjects design, all variables studied significantly affected movement time. Fitts’ law accounted for 44% or 97% of the variance in movement time, depending on the method of analysis. Fitts’ law was not equally effective under all combinations of the variables studied. An analysis of residuals showed that residuals were smaller for a point-click task in comparison to a drag-drop task, and residuals were lowest for the largest target displayed at the shortest distance from the starting position. The application of Fitts’ law to cursor movements with a mouse should be qualified by noting the conditions under which the movements were observed.