The Ergonomics of Computer Pointing Devices

This text provides in-depth coverage of the ergonomics of computer pointing devices using psychomotor models to analyze human performance, and experimental data for evaluation. The full spectrum of pointing devices are discussed including mice, joysticks and trackballs. Human motor performance and its effect on the design of pointing devices is comprehensively covered with issues such as vision, touch, cognition and limb control addressed. A chapter is devoted to design and includes discussion of task-device compatibility, range of motion, adaptive software control and device operation, and user interface semantics. The final chapter, as well as addressing international standards (including ISO 9247 and the American National Standards Institute) also looks at future issues in the development of pointing devices including pointing and speech, distributed environments and virtual reality.