Micro Visualizations on a Smartwatch: Assessing Reading Performance While Walking

TL;DR

This study evaluates how walking trajectories and speeds impact the reading accuracy and response time of micro visualizations on smartwatches, finding that walking activity, especially at higher speeds, impairs reading performance.

Contribution

It provides empirical insights into how walking speed and trajectory affect micro visualization readability on smartwatches, informing wearable interface design.

Findings

Walking trajectories did not significantly affect reading performance.

Higher walking speeds reduced reading accuracy.

Walking activity at high speeds impairs response time.

Abstract

With two studies, we assess how different walking trajectories (straight line, circular, and infinity) and speeds (2 km/h, 4 km/h, and 6 km/h) influence the accuracy and response time of participants reading micro visualizations on a smartwatch. We showed our participants common watch face micro visualizations including date, time, weather information, and four complications showing progress charts of fitness data. Our findings suggest that while walking trajectories did not significantly affect reading performance, overall walking activity, especially at high speeds, hurt reading accuracy and, to some extent, response time.