Uneven joystick speed makes screen-edge and corner targeting slower

What it is

Moving a cursor to a screen corner with a joystick is often slower and less even than reaching a central target. Velocity control must span different distances: a large deflection crosses the screen quickly, but approaching an edge or corner requires slowing, centring, and fine correction. Long, diagonal, and edge-bound moves therefore have unequal difficulty.

Why it happens

A velocity mapping converts the same deflection into distance per second, while screen boundaries truncate further movement. Users estimate remaining distance and change speed before arrival; centring early stops short, while centring late hits the boundary or passes a neighbouring target. Axis response, acceleration, and aspect ratio can also make diagonal directions uneven.

Studying it

Place equal-width targets at the centre, edges, and four corners; balance starting points and movement directions, then compare time, path efficiency, boundary contact, and corrections. Test fixed gain, acceleration, and precision modes separately so averages do not conceal edge and corner difficulty.

Where it stops holding

An edge can enlarge effective target width because the cursor cannot travel beyond it, but that does not automatically solve precise stopping along the edge. Focus navigation and automatic-selection systems do not depend on continuous cursor travel, so the problem appears differently.

Applying it

• Provide smooth deceleration or temporary low gain near edges and small targets.
• Offer shortcuts, focus jumps, or clear snap points for frequent corner actions.
• Tune with diagonal and edge paths, not only with central screen trials.

Related

• Same group: C1.18.1 Joystick pointing outputs a velocity vector, so the cursor keeps moving · C1.18.2 Joystick pointing needs a dead zone to remove drift and jitter at rest · C1.18.4 Gamepad pointing often uses target snapping to compensate for limited precision · C1.18.5 Limited joystick travel cannot extend range by clutching like a mouse
• Nearby: B1 Interaction principles and laws · C1.01 Types and properties of pointing devices
• Search terms: edge targeting · joystick · cursor gain