Experimental evaluation on usability for pointing divices in human-computer interaction.
Atsuo Murata · The Japanese Journal of Ergonomics · 1992
Six pointing devices were evaluated experimentally from the viewpoints of the pointing time, effects of the moving distance and the target size on the pointing time, accuracy and subjective feeling on usability.With respect to the pointing time, the direct pointing devices were remarkably superior to the indirect pointing devices.The pointing accuracy for the trackball and mouse was very high.On the other hand, the accuracy for the direct pointing devices was low, especially when the target size was small.Concerning the subjective feeling on the usability, the evaluation for the direct pointing devices and the mouse was moderate.However, the workload on the hand, arm, neck and shoulder for the direct pointing devices was heavy.Applying the Fitts's law to model the relation between the Fitts's index of difficulty and the pointing time, the effects of the moving distance and the target size on the pointing time were discussed.In case of the direct pointing devices, the pointing time was explained enough by the Fitts's law even if it was not applied according to the moving distance, because of the easiness of eyehand coordination.The target size and the moving distance had little effects on the pointing time.On the other hand, the pointing time for the indirect pointing devices was modelled well by the Fitts's law when it was applied according to the moving distance.Concerning the indirect pointing devices, only the target size had effects on the pointing time.