#  ✎ Technique: Pointer gestures 

 



All operations must use simple gestures that need only a single touch. Gestures that need two fingers or complicated movements can be hard to operate for people with hand tremors or limited movement. Users with alternative input devices such as a mouth stick, sip-and-puff, or head mouse also benefit. Simple gestures are easier for someone with cognitive impairments to remember and use. If the site or application does use multi-touch gestures, be sure to also provide simple interfaces.

## Examples

### ✗ Bad example: map application without zoom controls.

Google Maps mobile app only relies on pinch gesture for zooming.

   ![Mobile map app with no visible zoom controls.](/sites/g/files/omnuum12446/files/styles/hwp_1_1__720x720_scale/public/2024-06/pointer%20gestures%20bad%20example%201.jpg?itok=OYRv5nxW) 

 

### ✓ Good example: map application with zoom controls.

The [TopoView](https://ngmdb.usgs.gov/topoview/) map viewer application from the US Geological Service is a good example. It supports 2 fingered pinch and zoom gestures but also has + and - buttons to perform the same zoom actions. The + and - buttons are single pointer gestures. The application also supports touch and drag to pan around the map. To make this into a simple gesture, add up, down, left and right arrow buttons along the left hand navigation area. Now a user can pan around the map by clicking an arrow button. The screenshot below shows these added arrow buttons.

   ![Map app with visible arrow buttons to pan up, left, right, or down.](/sites/g/files/omnuum12446/files/styles/hwp_1_1__960x960_scale/public/2024-06/pointer%20gestures%20good%20example%201.png?itok=OI5-fAhR) 

 

(Source: [Knowbility article on pointer gestures](https://knowbility.org/blog/2018/WCAG21-251PointerGestures/))



 



 

 See also:- [ Inputs ](/accessibility-topics/inputs)
- [ Switch-based input ](/access-technologies/switch-based-output)
- [ Custom widgets and controls ✎ ](/content/custom-widgets-and-controls)
- [ Design controls for easy operation ✎ ](/content/size-controls-easy-operation)
- [ Operable ](/techniques/principles/operable)
- [ Motor impairment ](/disabilities/motor-impairment)
- [ Touch ](/technologies/touch)
- [ Techniques ](/page-categories/techniques)