The Effect of Target Color and Contrast on Movement Times in Aimed Movement Tasks

Abstract

Today's use of various devices and software requires pointing, clicking or touching within a variety of graphic user interfaces. Understanding the effect of the potential variety of interface elements on these interactions or aimed movements will assist in optimizing performance within these interfaces. This study addresses the potential effect of color and contrast of targets on performance in aimed movement tasks through a pointing and clicking task on the computer. Target size, color, contrast, and movement direction were manipulated, measuring any effect on movement time and errors. Size had an effect on movement time, as predicted by Fitts' law, with a decrease in performance as size decreased. Color had no significant effect on movement time or errors. Target contrast interacted with size in both movement time and error analysis; as size decreased, high contrast targets were hit faster and produced more errors than low contrast targets. Direction had an effect on movement time, with faster movements to the left.