Testing Force Touch – Why we chose not to implement

Force Touch, also known as "Peek + Pop," was introduced to iOS to let users press harder on their screens to reveal additional functionality. This feature, akin to the "right-click" in touch interfaces, offered third-party apps like Fidelity a way to give users quick shortcuts. We explored whether Force Touch could improve the user experience, especially for investors who needed fast access to key app features.

The Situation

The challenge was to understand how Force Touch could be leveraged within Fidelity's iOS app to improve user efficiency without complicating the experience. Given that Force Touch was a new concept, the design needed to be discoverable and useful.

My Role

As the designer, I led exploration of Force Touch, focusing on how it could be used to enhance specific tasks such as viewing balance information, placing trades, or accessing stock quotes.

Actions Taken

Research and Ideation: I explored existing Force Touch implementations to identify best practices and potential pitfalls. I also brainstormed possible touchpoints within the Fidelity app where Force Touch could add value.

Design and Prototyping: I created several Force Touch menus and screens, detailing potential interactions. To ensure accuracy, I collaborated with our UX developer, Andy, to create a live-code prototype, allowing us to simulate real user interactions.

User Testing: We conducted qualitative user testing with 12 participants, focusing on early tech adopters who were familiar with Fidelity and had used Force Touch before. This helped us understand how intuitive the feature was and whether it added real value.

Findings and Results

The user testing showed some key issues:

Pressure Sensitivity: Users had trouble getting the pressure and timing right to activate Force Touch.
Limited Discoverability: Without clear hints, users found it hard to know when to use Force Touch.
Underwhelming Previews: The "peek" feature often seemed unnecessary, as users would rather tap and go to the next screen.

Given these findings, we decided not to implement Force Touch functionality within the Fidelity app, except for a basic menu on the app icon. This decision was later supported when Apple discontinued Force Touch, favoring Haptic Touch, which relies on press duration instead of pressure.

Conclusion

Our exploration of Force Touch highlighted the importance of user-centered design and rigorous testing. Although the technology seemed promising, the feedback from user testing made it clear that this feature wasn't a good fit for our app. This case study serves as a reminder that just because a feature is new and exciting doesn't mean it's always the right choice for your product.

Thanks to the Mobile Design Team