Abstract
Multi-touch trackpads have the advantage over traditional pointing devices (mice) in being able to recognize and act on finger gestures, such as pinching, rotating, and swiping. The primary objective of this study was to quantify the effects of desktop-trackpad size and input mapping on performance, posture and discomfort. Three trackpad sizes (112X63 mm, 178X100 mm, 230 X130 mm) and two types of input mapping, the traditional relative mapping with ‘cursor acceleration’ and absolute mapping, were tested. Subjects performed a series of target acquisition tasks (drag and select) while the dependent variables were recorded. Results suggest that peripheral indirect-touch pointing devices with a width between 112 and 178 mm and a depth between 63 and 100 mm may provide an appropriate balance between cost, footprint, performance, and comfort.
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