Windows 7 Taskforce

Better use of "Fitt's Law" in Windows Explorer and Internet Explorer Back buttons.

Submitted by broccauley on September 29, 2009 to Usability

Problem: You can read about Fitt's Law here:
http://blogs.msdn.com/jensenh/archive/2006/08/22/711808.aspx

Essentially, the relevant point is that the easiest pixels on the screen to reach with your mouse pointer are those at the edges. Google's Chrome browser uses this principle very well for both its tabs and back button. The back button especially is much easier to activate with a mouse/trackpad in Chrome because it will activate when your mouse is at the extreme left edge of a maximized window. You don't have to even think about the x axis when trying to click the back button!!

If, however, you move your mouse to the extreme edge beside the back button in a Windows Explorer/Internet Explorer window the back button will not be active!

Solution: Make the back button also active at the extreme left edge of a Windows Explorer/Internet Explorer window!

Severity: Medium

Impact: Medium

Status: Not fixed

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