The role of size of an augmented force field in computer-aided target-acquisition tasks

Abstract

This study describes three experiments in which the influence of different force-field radii on efficiency and satisfaction is tested within a target acquisition task. The first two experiments tested four radii, starting after 0%, 30%, 60%, or 80% of the total distance of a cursor movement was covered. In the first experiment, the force field with the largest radius was found to be the least satisfying, whereas the force field starting after 60% was the most satisfying. In the second experiment, however, the force field with the largest radius was found to be the most efficient. The third experiment presented two or more targets simultaneously and included a prediction algorithm, predicting a user's intended target. The force field starting after 30% of the path was found to be the least efficient and the least satisfying. The no-force condition was most efficient but was not rated higher than the two smallest fields.