Type Properties

A prediction model used in human-computer interaction. It states that the time required to move to a target area rapidly increases as the distance to the target increases. The law was proposed by Paul Fitts, an American psychologist, in 1954 as a mathematical model of movement with limited cognitive capacity.

Fitts hypothesized that one would quickly select its first apparent target when reaching for an object before considering alternatives — a phenomenon called "target fixation." This tendency would increase progressively with increased distance between the subject and object until it eventually became exponential (i.e., too far away).

The process of arranging type to make written material readable. The arrangement of type involves decisions about individual letters and words (e.g. line spacing, letter spacing, and word spacing) and more significant page layout decisions (e.g., margins, headline position on the page).

Affordances describe a relationship between the environment and an animate object, classified as either positive or negative.

Items, such as a car that leads to movement, have a positive affordance. Things like stairs that lead upwards have a negative affordance because they will not allow for any other form of movement other than up or down if used accordingly.

The small decorative stroke at the end of a stroke in a letter, or a typeface.

The last line of a paragraph following the rest, or a single line in a paragraph that is out of place with the rest.

A style of typeface that uses a width-to-height ratio of 1:1.

The process of adjusting the spacing between individual letters to improve or avoid particular visual distortions.

A graphical representation of a scenario, usually created and presented in sequence.

A sample of the target audience for which a product or service is intended.

A psychological phenomenon that states that people tend to remember unfinished or interrupted tasks better than completed tasks.