Web Directions Podcast

The average size of an adult human’s finger pad is 10-​​14mm. The average size of a cursor or stylus tip is 1-​​2mm. That fact alone means that designing native touchscreen apps is an entirely different thing than designing web, desktop, or even traditional mobile apps. This talk outlines the most important concepts, guidelines, and practices to keep in mind when designing with fingers and hands in mind. We’ll cover interaction zones (where it’s easiest for fingers to reach), touch targets (size and distance apart), kinesiology (how fingers can bend, move, and stretch), and signaling (how users can become aware of gestures). Dan Saffer is an interaction designer and the author of two books: Designing Gestural Interfaces and Designing for Interaction. He is the co-​​founder and one of the principals at Kicker Studio, a design consultancy in San Francisco that does "interaction-​​infused" product design. Since 1995, Dan has designed devices, software, websites, and services that are currently used by million