Tappy Plugin for Figma: Predicting Tap Success Rates of User-Interface Elements under Development for Smartphones

TL;DR

This paper introduces the Tappy Plugin for Figma, which predicts tap success rates of UI elements on smartphones to help designers optimize usability, based on a Dual Gaussian Distribution Model.

Contribution

The paper presents a novel Figma plugin that calculates tap success probabilities from UI element sizes, enhancing mobile UI design accuracy.

Findings

Plugin converts pixel sizes to mm for accurate modeling

Predicts tap success rates using Dual Gaussian Distribution Model

Available for free to aid mobile UI design

Abstract

Tapping buttons and hyperlinks on smartphones is a fundamental operation, but users sometimes fail to tap user-interface (UI) elements. Such mistakes degrade usability, and thus it is important for designers to configure UI elements so that users can accurately select them. To support designers in setting a UI element with an intended tap success rate, we developed a plugin for Figma, which is modern software for developing webpages and applications for smartphones, based on our previously launched web-based application, Tappy. This plugin converts the size of a UI element from pixels to mm and then computes the tap success rates based on the Dual Gaussian Distribution Model. We have made this plugin freely available to external users, so readers can install the Tappy plugin for Figma by visiting its installation page (https://www.figma.com/community/plugin/1425006564066437139/tappy) or from their desktop Figma software.