Title :
A Comparison of Menu Configurations and Pointing Devices for Use with Wearable Computers while Mobile and Stationary
Author :
Zucco, Joanne E. ; Thomas, Bruce H. ; Grimmer-Somers, Karen ; Cockburn, Andy
Author_Institution :
Wearable Comput. Lab., Univ. of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
Abstract :
Wearable computing technology offers tremendous possibilities to support users in performing a variety of tasks that go beyond traditional desk-based computer interaction. Recent wearable systems share many capabilities with desk-based workstations, but often differ in the way user input is acquired and processed. This paper investigates four commercially available pointing devices and four on-screen menu configurations to assess which are most appropriate for performing menu selection tasks using a wearable computer system in a mobile and stationary scenario. We conducted a controlled user study to compare a trackball, touchpad, gyroscopic mouse and Twiddler2 in combination with pull-down, linear (fixed and pop-up) and pie pop-up menus. Our results indicate that pie pop-up menus are the most effective menu structure irrespective of the input device used, and that the trackball device outperforms the remaining devices in terms of speed and error rate.
Keywords :
user interfaces; wearable computers; desk-based workstations; menu configurations; pointing devices; wearable computers; wearable computing technology; Context modeling; Error analysis; Information science; Laboratories; Legged locomotion; Mice; Mobile computing; Tracking; Usability; Wearable computers;
Conference_Titel :
Wearable Computers, 2009. ISWC '09. International Symposium on
Conference_Location :
Linz
Print_ISBN :
978-0-7695-3779-5
DOI :
10.1109/ISWC.2009.15