Some comparisons of on-display and off-display touch input devices for interaction with computer generated displays

Abstract

Abstract The relative merits of on-display and off-display touch input devices are discussed, together with the additional features of computer-generated feedback and the means of confirming a selection. Subjects' performances with on-display and off-display devices are compared in three experiments with increasing target resolution requirements —menu selection, tabular display, and target acquisition. Performance, and subjective reactions, appear to be no worse for the off-display input, although both devices are worse than a rolling ball (tracker ball) for high resolution targets. Characteristic types of error with these devices are demonstrated, and no beneficial effects of enhanced computer-generated feedback are shown. It is concluded that off-display continuous touch input carries no performance penalty over the on-display counterpart, and that its use is justified where its other advantages are apposite.