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In slider controls, is there any restrictions about slider's marker? Is it context-dependent?

For instance, do you feel like this slider (taken from a desktop application built with Flex) could be a seek control in a multimedia player?

enter image description here

Somehow I get the feeling that triangle markers should be used to control settings and rounded markers for media seeking, but I don't know if this is a reasoned question. Is there any studies related?

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    Let us know if this is going to be a desktop application, website or touch app, and if so, what device it is for.
    – Dominik Oslizlo
    Apr 1, 2013 at 11:31
  • You are right, there was some info missing. I already update the question, thanks! :)
    – André Alves
    Apr 1, 2013 at 13:13

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A bunch of suggestions:

  • size of the target matters, so make sure the draggable control is not too small for convenient use

  • triangular shape makes the target half the size as it would be in case of being a rectangle. Of course you can make the rectangular area around the triangular control active, but anyway, users may be convinced that they need to click this triangle. As a result, they may find it inconvenient to use. To avoid it, try to use rectangular control pointing at the top:

enter image description here

  • plus, you can make even bigger area around the control active.

Additionally, consider providing more control actions:

  • users could use scroll wheel while pointing at the slider to operate it.

  • the whole area of the slider could be active allowing direct access to some position on it

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  • So do you think the shape of the target is not related to its functionality? For instance, is it ok if a multimedia time slider has the same target as an option slider to choose numbers?
    – André Alves
    Apr 1, 2013 at 14:22
  • I only suggest 'pumping it up' a little bit to make it better use the space and look and feel of being easier to drag while still pointing at the top.
    – Dominik Oslizlo
    Apr 1, 2013 at 14:55
  • Also, to make the slider even more precise, the markers could be moved above or under the line, so that only the tip is touching the bar.
    – SuperFluxx
    Apr 1, 2013 at 18:27
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It's all about Fitts' law.

Since the seek bar will not be in any corner of the screen, the next easiest way to make it easily accessible is to make it larger. A circle of the same height as the triangle will have a larger target area for the user to select. Also, if you feel the slider container/bar is too small, you can make the circle larger than the height of the slider container.

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