Titre du document / Document title

Notebook input devices put to the age test : the usability of trackpoint and touchpad for middle-aged adults

Auteur(s) / Author(s)

ARMBRÜSTER C. ⁽¹⁾ ; SUTTER C. ⁽¹⁾ ; ZIEFLE M. ⁽¹⁾ ;

Affiliation(s) du ou des auteurs / Author(s) Affiliation(s)

⁽¹⁾ RWTH Aachen University, Jägerstraße 17-19, 52056 Aachen, ALLEMAGNE

Résumé / Abstract

In two experiments, the usability of input devices integrated into computer notebooks was under study. The most common input devices, touchpad (experiment 1) and trackpoint (experiment 2) were examined. So far, the evaluation of mobile input devices has been restricted to younger users. However, due to ongoing demographic change, the main target group of mobile devices will be older users. Therefore, the present study focused on ageing effects. A total of 14 middle-aged (40-65 years) and 20 younger (20-32 years) users were compared regarding speed and accuracy of cursor control in a point-click and a point-drag-drop task. Moreover, the effects of training were addressed by examining the performance increase over time. In total, 640 trials per task and input device were executed. The results show that ageing is a central factor to be considered in input device design. Middle-aged users were significantly slower than younger users when executing the different tasks. Over time, a significant training effect was observed for both devices and both age groups, although the benefit of training was greater for the middle-aged group. Generally, the touchpad performance was higher than the trackpoint performance in both age groups, but the age-related performance decrements were less distinct when using the touchpad.

Revue / Journal Title

Ergonomics    ISSN  0014-0139   CODEN ERGOAX 

Source / Source

2007, vol. 50, n^o3, pp. 426-445 [20 page(s) (article)] (2 p.1/4)

Langue / Language

Anglais

Editeur / Publisher

Taylor & Francis, London, ROYAUME-UNI  (1957) (Revue)

Mots-clés anglais / English Keywords

Ergonomics

;

Human

;

Physical performance

;

Computer

;

Age

;

Mots-clés français / French Keywords

Ergonomie

;

Homme

;

Performance physique

;

Ordinateur

;

Age

;

Mots-clés espagnols / Spanish Keywords

Ergonomía

;

Hombre

;

Rendimiento físico

;

Computadora

;

Edad

;

Mots-clés d'auteur / Author Keywords

Ageing: Input device

;

Computer notebook

;

Touchpad

;

Trackpoint

;

Motor performance

;

Cursor control

;

Point-click task

;

Point-drag-drop task

;

Localisation / Location

INIST-CNRS, Cote INIST : 9268, 35400014551106.0080