Optimizing Touch Command and Control

A well-designed Ultra-Mobile PC user interface provides users simple, direct and reliable touch interaction. Design and organize touch targets, such as buttons and links, in such a way as to maximize legibility, accessibility and precision.

Touch Target Recommendations

  • Make touch targets at least 1 cm x 1 cm.
  • Scale targets to accommodate a range of display sizes and resolutions.
  • Space targets sufficiently to ensure an accurate interaction layer.
  • Ensure that your target's graphics maintain legibility. Keep in mind that graphics don't have to fill an entire target area in order to maintain legibility.
  • Ensure that targets are not obscured by the finger or hand when the user is interacting with the display.
  • Provide larger targets when your application will be used in limited attention scenarios, such as driving or walking.
  • Create an aesthetically organized touch experience by grouping targets by related functionality.
  • Avoid placing targets at the edges of the display, where touch targeting can be difficult. Targets that are positioned at the edge of the display should have additional buffering so they can't be moved off the display.

 

 

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Build date: 2/8/2011