Accuracy measures for evaluating computer pointing devices

  • Authors:

  • I. Scott MacKenzie;Tatu Kauppinen;Miika Silfverberg

  • Affiliations:

  • Dept. of Computer Science, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M3J 1P3;Nokia Research Center, P.O. Box 407, FIN-00045 Nokia Group, Finland;Nokia Research Center, P.O. Box 407, FIN-00045 Nokia Group, Finland

  • Venue:
  • Proceedings of the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems
  • Year:
  • 2001

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Abstract

In view of the difficulties in evaluating computer pointing devices across different tasks within dynamic and complex systems, new performance measures are needed. This paper proposes seven new accuracy measures to elicit (sometimes subtle) differences among devices in precision pointing tasks. The measures are target re-entry, task axis crossing, movement direction change, orthogonal direction change, movement variability, movement error, and movement offset. Unlike movement time, error rate, and throughput, which are based on a single measurement per trial, the new measures capture aspects of movement behaviour during a trial. The theoretical basis and computational techniques for the measures are described, with examples given. An evaluation with four pointing devices was conducted to validate the measures. A causal relationship to pointing device efficiency (viz. throughput) was found, as was an ability to discriminate among devices in situations where differences did not otherwise appear. Implications for pointing device research are discussed.