In this study two experiments were conducted to compare pen-based selection strategies and their characteristics. Two state transition models were also formulated which provide new vocabulary that will help in investigating interactions related to target selection issues. Six strategies, which can be described by the state transition models, were used in the experiments. We determined the best strategy of the six to be the “Slide Touch” strategy, where the target is selected at the moment the pen-tip touches the target for the first time after landing on the screen surface. The six strategies were also classified into strategy groups according to their characteristics. We determined the best strategy group to be the “In-Out” strategy group, where the target is selected by contact either inside or outside the target. Analyses show that differences between strategies are influenced by variations in target size; however, the differences between strategies are not affected by the distance to the target (i.e., pen-movement-distance) or the direction of pen movement (i.e., pen-movement-direction). We also found “the smallest maximum size” of five pixels, i.e., the boundary value for the target size below which there are significant differences, and above which there are no significant differences between the strategies in error rate. Relationships between interaction states, routes, and strategy efficiency were also investigated.

Publications:

Ren, X., and Moriya, S. 2000. Improving selection performance on pen-based system: A study of pen-based interaction for selection tasks, ACM Trans. Computer-Human Interaction, Vol.7, No.3. pp. 384-416. PDF

This study introduces a novel interaction technique that improves target acquisition in pen-based interfaces. This technique is called Beam Cursor. The Beam Cursor exploits the sliding motion and dynamically updates the effective width of targets on screen according to the original location of the pen-tip, such that even if the pen-tip lands in the vicinity of a target the target can easily be selected. We also provide reports on two controlled experiments which were performed to evaluate the Beam Cursor in both 1D (dimension) and 2D target selection tasks on the pen-based interface.

Publications:

Yin, J. and Ren, X.: The Beam Cursor. 2006. A Pen-based Technique for Enhancing Target Acquisition, In Proceding of HCI 2006. Springer, pp.119-134. PDF     Video

 

This study presents the Adaptive Hybrid Cursor, a novel target acquisition technique for pen-based interfaces. To assist a user in a target selection task, this technique automatically adapts the size of the cursor and/or its contexts (the target size and the selection background) based on pen pressure input.? We systematically evaluated the new technique with various 2D target acquisition tasks. The experimental results indicated that the Adaptive Hybrid Cursor had better selection performance, and was particularly effective for small-target and high-density environments.

Publications:

Ren, X., Yin, J., Li, Y., and Zhao, S. 2007. The Adaptive Hybrid Cursor: A Pressure-based Target Selection Technique for Pen-based User Interfaces. In Proceedings of INTERACT 2007. Springer, pp.310-323. PDF  

This study present a novel zoom-based technique with pressure (hereafter referred to as “ZWPS”) is proposed to improve small target selection in penbased interfaces. In this technique pressure is used as a switch mode to couple a standard pointing technique and a zoomable technique together. ZWPS allows both precise and normal selections. We conducted an experiment to examine the effectiveness of ZWPS. The experimental results indicate that ZWPS significantly enhance small target selections.

Publications:

Yin, J., and Ren, X. 2007. ZWPS: A Hybrid Selection Technique for Small Target Acquisition in Pen-Based Interfaces. In Proceedings of INTERACT 2007. Springer, pp.503-506.

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This study presents three selection techniques (called Rubber-ling-sweep, Line-string and Coupling-with-pressure) to enhance multi-target acquisition in GUIs and to overcome the drawback of the standard rubber-band box technique, i.e., the limitation of not being able to select an irregular layout of targets. Rubber-line-sweep utilizes a rubber-band line to select targets by “sweeping” them. Line-string employs a line stroke to “string” targets together and select them. Coupling-with-pressure couples these two techniques with pressure as a switch mode. Experiments were conducted to compare these techniques with the standard Rubber-band box, which used a two-dimensional grid which could include varied target sizes, distances and target layouts, and which is applied by using pens as input devices. Experimental results indicate that Rubber-line-sweep, Line-string and Coupling-with-pressure show significant advantages for targets with irregular layouts. Taking performance and subjective ratings together, Coupling-with-pressure outperforms the other three techniques.

Publications:

Yin, J., and Ren, X. 2007. Investigation to Line-based Techniques for Multi-target Selection . In Proceedings of INTERACT 2007. Springer, pp.507-510.

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