Coelho Denis A, Lourenço Miguel L
Human Technology Group, Department of Electromechanical Engineering, Universidade da Beira Interior (UBI), Covilhã, Portugal.
Centre for Mechanical and Aerospace Science and Technology, UBI, Covilhã, Portugal.
Work. 2018;61(1):157-170. doi: 10.3233/WOR-182785.
Focusing on the efficiency aspect of computer pointing devices' usability, this paper reports on a novel and tentative empirically derived efficiency index for 3D CAD.
Three commercially available computer pointing devices were compared: a standard horizontal computer mouse, a vertical device (supporting neutral pronation of the forearm) and a slanted device.
Pilot structured observations of 10 subjects' activity were carried out to estimate the proportion of each unique computer mouse operation during CAD modelling with a 3D parametric software. Pointing, dragging and steering standardized tasks were implemented by software and performed by 20 users. Effectiveness and efficiency were calculated and discomfort, effort and ease of use were subjectively assessed.
The mean efficiency index value was lower for the vertical device. Assessments of discomfort, effort and ease of use also supported considering preference for the horizontal and slanted devices, providing limited internal validation.
Results suggest the tentative index may offer a valid means of ranking performance of alternative pointing devices regarding operation efficiency.
本文聚焦于计算机指针设备可用性的效率方面，报告了一种用于三维计算机辅助设计（3D CAD）的新颖且初步通过实证得出的效率指标。
比较三种市售计算机指针设备：标准水平计算机鼠标、垂直设备（支持前臂中立位旋前）和倾斜设备。
对10名受试者的活动进行初步结构化观察，以估计在使用三维参数软件进行CAD建模期间每种独特计算机鼠标操作的比例。由软件执行指向、拖动和转向标准化任务，并由20名用户完成。计算有效性和效率，并主观评估不适感、用力程度和易用性。
垂直设备的平均效率指标值较低。对不适感、用力程度和易用性的评估也支持倾向于水平和倾斜设备，提供了有限的内部验证。
结果表明该初步指标可能为根据操作效率对替代指针设备的性能进行排名提供一种有效的方法。
