Tactile feedback applied to computer mice

Abstract

Most computer systems use a mouse as the input device for menu selection, pointing, and manipulation of screen objects. The user can get visual information from the screen only about the position of the mouse and the action that was initiated. In contrast, during the manipulation of real objects, the visual channel is only responsible for giving broader information about the action, whereas the motoric action itself is predominantly controlled by tactile information fed by interoceptive and exteroceptive sensory signals. Consequently, working with a standard computer mouse requires concentration primarily on the visual system, leading to strain reactions. Furthermore, human motor action is slower when only visual sense is used and tactile sense is ignored. In respect to this situation, it is proposed that a computer mouse be enhanced with additional tactile feedback to approximate more closely real object handling, thereby reducing strain reactions. To test this hypothesis, a standard computer mouse was e...