Avionic Touchscreen Interaction under Vibration: Supported versus Freehand Target Selection in Cockpit Conditions

With touchscreens being installed in aircraft flight decks, reach-and-turbulence-related challenges arise. Using the ISO 9241-411 multidirectional selection task (a 2D Fitts’ task), we quantified impact of vibration on touchscreen target throughput performance score combining both speed and accuracy) error rate a cockpit layout. 24 participants completed under 2 levels (helicopter level versus static), hand support methods (using thumb, while holding onto screen’s edge, using index finger freehand), 4 types (two avionic two consumer touchscreens), positions (main instrument panel pedestal), sizes (0.8, 1, 1.5 cm). We found average values 6.5 bits per second (bps) static conditions, 5.7 bps vibration, rates 10.3% 16.6% vibration. Similar to prior work, an exponential increase with decreasing size. Larger helped mitigate did not find evidence benefit anchoring touchscreen’s bezel compared freehand baseline, or conditions. Under pedestal outperformed main position, higher lower rate. In performed similarly. This work contributes mitigation when interacting aviation context.