People can Compensate for Directional Mismatches Between Input Devices and Cursor Motions,up to a Threshold

Abstract

This paper explores the human capacity to use visual feedback to compensate for directional mismatches between input devices and cursor motions in a standardized pointing task. Sixteen participants completed blocks of 64 trials as the directional mismatch between the input device and cursor motion was incremented clockwise by 7.5° over thirteen blocks, from 0° to 90°. At 90°, a vertical motion of the mouse mapped to a cursor motion directly to the right. Participants were robust to these acclimated directional mismatches up to 30°, at which point pointing performance began to decline. The findings have application in understanding the robustness of traditional input methods, as well as in virtual reality where visual feedback mismatches can be used for steering physical motions to make better use of constrained physical space or to reuse tactile stimuli.