Augmenting the mouse with pressure sensitive input

Abstract

In this paper we investigate the use of a uni-pressure and dual-pressure augmented mouse. With a pressure augmented mouse users can simultaneously control cursor positions as well as multiple levels of discrete selection modes for common desktop application tasks. Two or more independent pressure sensors can be mounted onto several locations on the body of the mouse. To highlight the design potential of a pressure augmented mouse we conducted a multi-part study. In the first part we identified the number of maximum discrete levels controllable with a uni-pressure augmented mouse, the most appropriate locations for installing pressure sensors on the mouse, and the design of new interaction techniques to support selection with pressure-based input. In a follow-up design we introduced an additional sensor and two different types of selection techniques to control a larger number of discrete levels with two pressure sensors. Our results show that users can comfortably control up to 64 modes with a dual-pressure augmented mouse. We discuss the findings of our results in the context of several desktop interaction techniques and identify several design recommendations.

PressureMove: Pressure Input with Mouse Movement

“…Cechanowicz et al [2] investigated the possibility of facilitating pressure-based input by augmenting a mouse with either one or two pressure sensors. Such an augmentation allows users to control a large number of input modes with minimal displacements of the mouse.…”

“…Such an augmentation allows users to control a large number of input modes with minimal displacements of the mouse. Cechanowicz et al [2] developed several pressure mode selection mechanisms and showed that with two pressure sensors users can control over 64 discrete pressure modes. However, Cechanowicz et al [2] did not investigate the possibility of fluidly integrating pressure input with other mouse based operations.…”

“…Previous studies have suggested that users are not capable of distinguishing the granularity and controlling this range of pressure values [2,10,16]. This has led most investigations to discretizing the pressure space into controllable and haptically perceivable units.…”

“…Ramos et al [14,16] revealed that adequate control of pressure values is tightly coupled to a fixed number of discrete pressure levels (maximum of six levels). Cechanowicz et al [2] suggested that pressure discretization can include 8 to 10 discrete levels, when controlled by the thumb or index finger, on a mouse.…”

“…In line with recent incarnations of the mouse, Cechanowicz et al [2] have augmented the mouse with additional pressure input channels, and called this augmentation the PressureMouse. The PressureMouse builds upon the recently published set of guidelines for pressure based interaction [10,14,16].…”