Barrier Pointing

An interaction technique for touch screens that uses the physical edges of a device as barriers to assist with target acquisition. When a target is placed near a screen edge, users can slide their finger or stylus toward the edge, using it as a physical stop to improve selection accuracy. This technique leverages the same principle as scroll bar design in desktop interfaces — the screen boundary acts as an infinitely wide target in one dimension. For people with motor impairments, barrier pointing can significantly improve precision by providing physical stability and reducing the need for fine motor control during target selection.