Touch with a mouse-a mouse type interface device with tactile and force display

A mouse was modified to add tactile and force display via a solenoid driving a small pin and an electromagnet. In a target selection task experiment, the addition of tactile and force information feedback reduced target selection times, as compared to using a conventional mouse. A more pronounced effect was observed on the clicking time. In order to compare different sensory modalities, an experiment is conducted using a target selection task under five different sensory feedback conditions (“normal”, auditory, colour, tactile, and combined one). Significant differences were found in the clicking times. The modified mouse was also used in a test of virtual texture