Evaluating tactile feedback and direct vs. indirect stylus input in pointing and crossing selection tasks

Abstract

We present a pair of experiments that explore the effects of tactile-feedback and direct vs. indirect pen input on pointing and crossing selection tasks. While previous work has demonstrated the validity of crossing as a useful selection mechanism for pen-based computing, those experiments were conducted using an indirect input device -one in which the pen-input and display were separated. We investigate users' performance with pointing and crossing interfaces controlled via not only an indirect input device, but also a direct input device -one in which the pen-input and display are co-located. Results show that direct input significantly outperforms indirect input for crossing selection, but the two modalities are essentially equivalent in pointing selection. A small amount of tactile feedback is shown to be beneficial for both pointing and crossing selection, most noticeably in crossing tasks when using direct input where visual feedback is often occluded by a hand or stylus.

Evaluating Physical/Virtual Occlusion Management Techniques for Horizontal Displays

“…Ample research has shown that this occlusion is problematic and can severely impede performance [13,14]. Forlines et al [15] found that occlusion causes decay in performance in one-dimensional tapping and crossing tasks. Supporting this finding, Leithinger and Haller [16], while investigating menu placement for tabletops, discovered that menus suffering from occlusion had significant disadvantages compared to other menus.…”

Interface Design to Support Situation Awareness in Virtual Puppetry

“…The mean selection time between targets for direct input was significantly lower than that of indirect input; however, they also found that indirect input was more effective for the selection of smaller (and thus more difficult) targets (Forlines & Balakrishnan, 2008). These results indicate that the interface developed in this project would benefit from a direct pointing device (Wiimote®) instead of an indirect pointing device (mouse), but only as long as the targets are not so difficult that they counteract the benefits of using direct pointing.…”

“…Forlines and Balakrishnan (2008) conducted a study meant to address this topic. They conducted two studies, one of which analyzed both direct and indirect pointing with a stylus device on a tablet PC.…”

“…Such previous research can help to provide the basis for the hypotheses in this experiment. Forlines and Balakrishnan (2008) suggest that direct order control devices would be preferred in most interfaces, and Campbell et al (2008) suggest that zero-order control devices are more beneficial. Endsley's (1995) work advocates simpler, more intuitively designed interfaces in order to increase situation awareness.…”

Comparing Direct and Remote Tactile Feedback on Interactive Surfaces

“…It can even bring the performance of touchscreen keyboards close to the level of real, physical keyboards [11]. In addition, haptic stimuli during touch input reduce visual and cognitive load [20,15] and prevent occlusion [7]. In addition to such objective measures, palpable stimuli on otherwise flat touch surfaces also increase the user's subjective appraisal of the interaction.…”