Precision in Movements

Abstract

Under some circumstances the channel capacity of the human motor system has boon shown to be constant. Relationships based on information theory have been developed between the time for movement and the amplitude and tolerance of the movement. In the present experiment movements were made in one plane only, and it was hoped to test the general applicability of the relationships. The apparatus provided a pointer, which was swivelled by the subject through a vertical plane between two separated targets The experimental results have shown a significant relationship between the time for one rotary movement and a binary logarithmic index which related amplitude with target width. The time taken was affected by the inertia of the rotary system. There was variation between the eight subjects in the time taken. A comparison was made to see whether an index from the movement amplitude and target width was simply related to the values for the test determined from three Predetermined Motion Time Systems. Satisfactory times were not evolved from two of the throe Predetermined Motion Time Systems, but one system, Methods-Time Measurement, gave reasonable data.