A Method to Improve the Characteristic of a Linear Cursor Key

Abstract

This paper describes speed controllable cursor keys. The cursor keys which are discussed here have output speeds for an input force as follows :
[1] linear,
[2] three grades (zero, half and full),
[3] logistic, and
[4] exponential.
Experiments on the above cursor performance were carried out. The experimental results are as follows : The exponential output cursor key showed the shortest positioning time of the four kinds of cursor keys. And it was different from other cursor keys in the positioning time especially when a target size was small (3 mm in diameter). The settling time, which is spent to fix a cursor on a target, of the exponential output cursor key is the shortest of the four kinds of cursor keys. But the pressing time of it is the longest of all. These results show that the exponential output cursor key is controlled by applying force on a key top and the other cursor keys are controlled by tapping time. Next, these cursor keys are compared with a mouse. The logistic output and exponential output cursor keys showed the same time as the mouse when the target size was large (12 mm in diameter).