Touch Input Comparison Tool
Compare supported touch, pen, and mouse inputs.
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How the Touch Input Comparison Tool Works
The Touch Input Comparison Tool records touch, pen and mouse input on the same surface and compares their counts, speed and precision side by side. The tool reads the pointer type of each event to sort the input.
- Run the touch round: Tap the targets with a finger.
- Run the pen round: Tap the same targets with a stylus.
- Run the mouse round: Click the same targets with a mouse or trackpad.
- Compare results: See taps per second, average error and miss rate for each input.
Touch Input Comparison Tool Formula
The Touch Input Comparison Tool throughput equals the index of difficulty divided by the movement time, measured in bits per second. This Fitts's law measure allows a fair comparison between inputs.
- D
- Distance to the target
- W
- Target width
- MT
- Movement time in seconds
- ID
- Index of difficulty in bits
Example: A target 280 px away and 40 px wide gives ID = log₂(8) = 3 bits. A movement time of 0.6 s gives throughput = 3 ÷ 0.6 = 5 bits/s.
Touch Input Comparison Tool Reference Table
The Touch Input Comparison Tool conversion table shows typical values for each input type in pointing tasks.
| Input | pointerType | Typical error (mm) | Typical throughput (bits/s) | Pressure data |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finger | touch | 2 to 4 | 4 to 7 | Rare |
| Stylus | pen | 0.5 to 1.5 | 4 to 6 | Yes, on active pens |
| Mouse | mouse | 0.5 to 1 | 4 to 5 | No |
| Trackpad | mouse | 1 to 2 | 2 to 4 | Some devices |
About the Touch Input Comparison Tool
A Touch Input Comparison Tool is a test that measures how touch, pen and mouse input perform on the same task. The tool uses the pointerType value, which reads touch, pen or mouse, to separate the inputs.
Human-computer interaction (HCI) researchers compare inputs with Fitts's law throughput, measured in bits per second. The ISO 9241-411 standard describes this method for pointing devices.
Ways to Use the Touch Input Comparison Tool
The Touch Input Comparison Tool has 5 key uses, including device purchase decisions and HCI teaching.
- Device purchase decisions: Buyers compare finger and stylus precision on a tablet.
- HCI teaching: Students run Fitts's law experiments in class.
- Accessibility choices: Users find the input that gives them the lowest error.
- App design: Teams size targets for the least precise expected input.
- Hybrid device testing: Testers check 2-in-1 laptops in touch, pen and trackpad modes.
Tool Details
- Category
- Tally & Calculation
- Controls
- Taps and keys
- Input Support
- Touch, Pen, Mouse, Keys
- Offline Ready
- On your device