A preliminary evaluation of a manually controlled computer

[摘要] We have developed a novel display control for interactive computer systems. This permits users to make a single displayed file scroll up or down by moving a hand control in the appropriate direction. The rate at which the system scrolls depends on the degree of control displacement; consequently it is more flexible than conventional keyboard systems. We further developed a two file version which displays files side by side, with their motion controlled in a similar manner. We evaluated the system's effect on task performance in two experiments, one dealing with computer programming, the other with word processing. The results are generally favorable. Subjects reported that they liked the controls and would find them useful in their work. The controls significantly reduced the number of keystrokes required in both experiments; in addition, in the first experiment, subjects who used the controls the most were significantly faster in completing the tasks.

[发布机构] Rice University