Design and Evaluation of a Novel Trackball Input Device：An example for middle-aged users
| Autor: | Han-Chia Chuang, 莊涵甲 |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 2008 |
| Druh dokumentu: | 學位論文 ; thesis |
| Popis: | 96 Recently, due to the development of computer technology and graphical user interface, there has been a rapid growth in the range of non-keyboard input devices. However, it could easily result in unnatural postures and musculoskeletal disorders(which could possibly be a burden for middle-aged users) because of the desktop space constraints when operating a mouse. Results from previous studies show that trackball mouse is a suitable input device for older adults which can decrease wrist ulnar deviation and shoulder elevation. Because users must roll the ball and press the buttom by single hand when performing tasks like dragging, it’s difficult to operate smoothly. However, when using two-handed operation in an appropriate way, participants not only gain the working efficiency, but also reduce the tireness. Therefore, this study developed two sets of novel trackball input devices operated by two hands(dominant hand controls the trackball；non-dominant hand presses the buttom) with no space constraints, and used a series of experiments:(1)performance evaluation tests (2)physical observations (3)questionnaire analysis to verify the two prototypes(Jack-1 and Jack-2) and the existing input devices(one mouse and two trackball mouse). The results of performance evaluation tests show that though the performances of Jack-1 and Jack-2 do not seem as good as those of the mouse among the average tested time, while progressing “drag-and-drop” evaluation tests, there are no significant differences between the mouse and the newly-develpoed devices(p>0.05). Besides, the performances of the two newly-developed devices are significantly better than both existing trackball input devices in several tasks. However, the results of stability assessment tests show that the ability of a mouse to control the cursor is still greater than all the other devices. In physical observation part, wrist extension and ulnar deviation were measured while using Jack-1 and Jack-2, but apparently slighter than all the other devices. In questionnaire analysis part, the mouse was given the highest score 4.2 among the devices, but with no diffirences between both Jack-1 and Jack-2(3.8 and 4.0). Eventually, the aim of this study is to offer middle-aged users more choices of input devices and to give some design guidelines for the future related studies. |
| Databáze: | Networked Digital Library of Theses & Dissertations |
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