Evaluation of the Usability of Personal Computer Peripherals using Photoplethysmographic Analysis

Abstract

The authors carried out a physiological evaluation involving plethysmographic analysis and subjective evaluation to identify differences in the usability of personal computer peripherals. As workload items, the speed of the mouse pointer was changed in three stages, and the plethysmography was measured while the users performed a Trail Making Test. Sympathetic nerve activity in the peripheral region and the central trunk region increases when the movement speed of the mouse pointer is slow. However, there was no significant difference in subjective evaluation and activity of autonomic nervous function. Competitive factors of mental workloads suggested that subjects experienced differences in load recognition of psychological stress and that this may affect the activity of autonomic nerve function.