Deriving Selection Techniques for GUIs based on the Multiple Process Model
Difeng Yu, James W. Roberts, Kasper Hornbæk, Joanna Bergström · 2025
Designing efficient selection techniques for graphical user interfaces (GUIs) is fundamental in HCI research.We derive selection techniques based on the multiple process model, a theory that details the motor control processes during goal-directed movements.Specifically, we deduce three theoretical assumptions on how control processes of pre-planning, impulse control, and limb-target control could influence selection movements when adjusting GUI elements, including visual feedback, cursor position, and target position.Corresponding to our assumptions, we develop three techniques that hide the cursor when a target is highlighted, snap the cursor when selection begins, and expand clustered objects during selection movements.After that, we pre-register the assumptions and research methodology and evaluate the techniques in three crowdsourcing-based pointing studies.Our results show that all techniques improved the selection efficiency compared to established baselines.We further discuss the design implications and reflect on how we derived techniques from theory.