Cognitive modeling demonstrates how people use anticipated location knowledge of menu items

ABSTRACT

This research presents cognitive models of a person selecting an item from a familiar, ordered, pull-down menu. Two different models provide a good fit with human data and thus two different possible explanations for the low- level cognitive processes involved in the task. Both models assert that people make an initial eye and hand movement to an anticipated target location without waiting for the menu to appear. The first model asserts that a person knows the exact location of the target item before the menu appears, but the model uses nonstandard Fitts law coefficients to predict mouse pointing time. The second model asserts that a person would only know the approximate location of the target item, and the model uses Fitts law coefficients better supported by the literature. This research demonstrates that people can develop considerable knowledge of locations in a visual task environment, and that more work regarding Fitts law is needed.

REFERENCES

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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.5 INFORMATION INTERFACES AND PRESENTATION (I.7)
      H.5.2 User Interfaces (D.2.2, H.1.2, I.3.6)
          Subjects: Interaction styles (e.g., commands, menus, forms, direct manipulation)

Additional Classification:
  I. Computing Methodologies
  I.6 SIMULATION AND MODELING

General Terms:
Design, Human Factors, Theory

Keywords:
Fitts' law, cognitive models, menus, visual search