Searching Names in Contact List by Three Touch-Screen Gestures

We compared three list scrolling gestures including sliding to scroll, moving a regular scrollbar, and scrolling through alphabetic index, in a name locating task on mobile phone. We found that scrolling through alphabetic index was the fastest independent of target locations. Moreover. for near-reaching targets RT was shorter for sliding to scroll than moving scrollbar, but it took sliding longer than moving scrollbar for far-reaching targets. Gesture evaluation scores of alphabetic index increased and those of sliding to scroll decreased over time. The different pre- and post-task rating patterns for gestures are due to their differential fatigue and emotional changes. The present study provides insights into users' mental models for three list scrolling gestures and implications for future gesture design.

Automated summary

This study compares three list scrolling gestures on a mobile phone: sliding to scroll, moving a regular scrollbar, and scrolling through alphabetic index. It finds that scrolling through alphabetic index is the fastest regardless of target locations. The study also reveals that sliding to scroll has shorter reaction time for near-reaching targets, but longer reaction time for far-reaching targets. The evaluation scores of alphabetic index increase over time, while those of sliding to scroll decrease. The different rating patterns before and after the task are attributed to fatigue and emotional changes. This study provides insights into users' mental models for three list scrolling gestures and their implications for future gesture design.