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Diving, adaptation, and Fitts law.

R Kerr1

  • 1Department of Kinanthropology, University of Ottawa, Canada.

Journal of Motor Behavior
|December 1, 1978
PubMed
Summary

Welford's dual controlling factor interpretation of Fitts' law was tested using scuba divers. Underwater conditions revealed distinct contributions of movement amplitude and precision to movement time, supporting separate controlling factors.

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Area of Science:

  • Human motor control
  • Human-computer interaction
  • Biomechanics

Background:

  • Fitts's Law describes the time taken to move to a target.
  • Welford proposed dual controlling factors: movement amplitude and precision.
  • The distinct contributions of these factors require empirical validation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To empirically assess Welford's dual controlling factor interpretation of Fitts' Law.
  • To investigate how informational stress affects motor control parameters.
  • To differentiate the roles of movement amplitude and precision in task performance.

Main Methods:

  • Twenty scuba divers performed a reciprocal tapping task.
  • The task was conducted both on land and underwater to introduce informational stress.
  • Movement time, amplitude, and precision were measured to analyze controlling factors.

Main Results:

  • On land, movement amplitude and precision contributed nearly equally to movement time.
  • Underwater, relative changes in the contribution of amplitude and precision to movement time were observed.
  • These changes suggest that amplitude and precision function as separate controlling factors.

Conclusions:

  • The findings support Welford's interpretation of Fitts' Law involving dual controlling factors.
  • Informational stress, such as underwater conditions, can modulate the influence of these factors.
  • Movement amplitude and precision appear to be distinct, separable parameters in motor control.

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