Mode switching techniques through pen and device profiles
Huawei Tu, Xing-Dong Yang, Feng Wang, Feng Tian, Xiangshi Ren · 2012
In pen-based interfaces, inking and gesturing are two central tasks, and switching from inking to gesturing is an important issue. Previous studies have focused on mode switching in pen-based desktop devices. However, because pen-based handheld devices are smaller and more mobile than pen-based desktop devices, the principles in mode switching techniques for pen-based desktop devices may not apply to pen-based handheld devices. In this paper, we investigated five techniques for switching between ink and gesture modes in two form factors of pen-based handheld devices respectively: PDA and Tablet PC. Two quantitative experiments were conducted to evaluate the performance of these mode switching techniques. Results showed that in Tablet PC, pressure performed the fastest but resulted in the most errors. In PDA, back tapping offered the fastest performance. Although pressing and holding was significantly slower than the other techniques, it resulted in the fewest errors in Tablet PC and PDA. Pressing button on handheld device offered overall fast and accurate performance in Tablet PC and PDA.