Graphic Input Devices Research Articles

Effects of sensorimotor transformations with graphical input devices

The impact of sensorimotor transformations with graphical input devices is surveyed with regard to action control. Recent evidence lets us assume that the distal action effect (the moving cursor) rather than the proximal action effect (the moving hand) determines the efficiency of tool use. In Experiment 1, different gains were explored with a touchpad and a mini-joystick. In correspondence with our assumptions the results revealed evidence that Fitts' law holds for distal action–effect movements, but less for proximal action–effect movements. Most importantly, this was not only true for the touchpad but also for the mini-joystick. We further found a more efficient use of the touchpad in comparison to the mini-joystick when a high gain was used. In Experiment 2, the dominance of the action effect on motor control was confirmed in an experiment with a digitiser tablet. The tablet amplitude was held constant, but again, movement times followed the perceived index of difficulty on the display. It is concluded that Fitts' law did not rely on the movements of the motor system, but on the distal action effects on the display (changes in visual space). Distal action–effect control plays an important role in understanding the constraints of the acquisition and application of tool transformations.

The Use of a Graphical Input Device to Assist Student Learning

AbstractThe benefits of a ‘developing’ teaching style, in which a specific topic is developed on a white- or blackboard, commonly known as “chalk and talk”, have been widely acknowledged. However, one of the drawbacks of this teaching approach is the transient nature of the notes. Students are reliant on the correctness of their copies for revisions, without being able to compare their notes later with the original ones written by the lecturer. Furthermore, students tend to focus on copying the notes from the board, instead of engaging in the development of the topic. The aim of this project therefore was to investigate whether a graphical input device, in combination with image-capturing software can be employed to generate more permanent lecture notes. Lecture notes were written on a virtual board, captured and then annotated and made available to students in various formats. The impact of this approach on student experience was evaluated.

Effect of Graphic Input Device and Repetition on Wrist Posture

This study investigated the Wacom Intuos2 pen and tablet and/or standard Microsoft mouse on wrist posture of 20 experienced users. Wrist posture, measured by extension, flexion, ulnar, and radial deviation, was compared across three independent variables: repetition (repetitive or alternative), input device (mouse and/or pen), and session (session 1 and session 2). Devices were used during a graphical computer task, which was repeated or alternated for two 30 minute test sessions. Neutral wrist range was defined within 15 degrees of 0 in any direction. Input device group interacted with session to significantly impact wrist extension, F (3, 16) = 9.42, p<.001 and ulnar deviation, F (3, 16) = 3.23, p<.05. When analyzing repetition while using the mouse, less extension was found than the pen. Both devices required movement outside the defined neutral range for extension. A significant repetition by session interaction effect for wrist flexion was revealed: F (1, 16) = 6.83, p<.05. The repetitive group revealed little to no flexion during the first session which was statistically different than the alternative group; both groups were inside the neutral range.

Three-dimensional imaging system

A three-dimensional ultrasound imaging system includes an ultrasound probe to direct ultrasound waves to and to receive reflected ultrasound waves from a target volume of a subject under examination. The ultrasound probe is swept over the target volume along a linear scanning path and the reflected ultrasound waves are conveyed to a computer wherein successive two-dimensional images of the target volume are digitized. The digitized two-dimensional images can be used to generate a three-dimensional image with virtually no delay. A user interface allows a user to manipulate the displayed image. Specifically, the entire displayed image may be rotated about an arbitrary axis, a surface of the displayed image may be translated to provide different cross-sectional views of the image and a selected surface of the displayed image may be rotated about an arbitrary axis. All of these manipulations can be achieved via a single graphical input device such as a mouse connected to the computer.

Standardisation of the graphical and operator input device modules for tactical command and control man-machine interfaces

Since many of the MMI systems designed for tactical command and control operating environments are similar in nature, there is a need to standardise certain elements of the systems. This paper gives a summary of the investigation into standardising certain graphical MMI elements, and operator input device elements for tactical command and control systems. This standardisation allows for rapid prototyping on low-cost platforms, as well as enabling the code to be transferred easily between different operating platforms. >

Standardisation of the graphical and operator input device modules for tactical command and control man/machine interfaces

Since many of the MMI systems designed for Tactical Command and Control operating environments are similar in nature, there is a need to standardise certain elements of the systems. This paper gives a summary of the investigation into standardising certain graphical MMI elements, and operator input device elements for Tactical Command and Control systems. This standardisation allows for rapid prototyping on low-cost platforms, as well as enabling the code to be transferred easily between different operating platforms.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

A system for the analysis and comparison of oceanographic data from satellite-borne and in-situ sensors

ODESSA is an Oceanographic Database and Environmental Satellite System Application developed for ARE (Portland) by Logica Space and Defence Systems Limited, under Ministry of Defence contract. It is possible to access online or historic satellite images, which may be processed and displayed in a variety of formats. The oceanographic database contains data as a function of depth that have been derived from a wide range of instruments, geographic areas and times. This database may be accessed and the data processed and displayed in a number of ways, some of which can be directly overlaid and compared with the processed satellite images. The system was designed to be flexible, with an emphasis on the man-machine interface, making extensive use of menus and graphic input devices. The flexibility allows for easy expansion to include further processing and display facilities. Examples of output displays are presented to show the application of the ODESSA system in oceanographic modelling studies and in relating sea-surface temperatures to the three-dimensional water-column structure.

The drawing prism

Artists using conventional computer graphic input devices cannot produce the same visual effects which they can with traditional tools and media. The drawing prism is a new device which allows people to draw or paint directly into a frame buffer, using brushes, their hands, or a variety of other objects. These objects can be manipulated to achieve continuously adjustable line qualities and textures, in the same ways that artists have traditionally used their hands and tools.The device uses one face of a large transparent prisms as a drawing surface. A video camera views that surface from an angle such that it can only image the points of optical contact between drawing tools and the surface. These images are digitized and processed in real time so as to build up a drawing as the tools are moved along the surface. A layer of transparent liquid helps tools make optical contact with the drawing surface. Any light colored object can thus be used as a drawing tool.Details of the current implementation are provided along with suggestions for improving its resolution. Combinations of visual effects previously restricted to either traditional media or computer graphics are described and illustrated.

The use of touch-sensitive screen in interactive morphometry.

We propose the use of a touch-sensitive screen as a tool to facilitate acquisition of data both in point counting and morphometric planimetry. It obviates the use of a 'correspondence image' required with many planimetric devices in which the means for data acquisition and display are separate. The touch-sensitive screen offers operational advantages over the light pen. The characteristics of this new graphical input device, its assembly and basic operational considerations are introduced and discussed.

A programmer's interface to graphics dynamics

The term “graphics dynamics” is used in this paper to describe a capability which permits the application programmer to specify a relationship between various graphics input devices and aspects of the graphics output presentation. Subsequent use of the input devices results in continuous real-time changes to the picture. An experimental graphics system is described, in which a powerful programmer's interface to graphics dynamics was implemented. This interface appears suitable for use as an extension to any of the existing standards and standards proposals, including, CORE, GKS, and PHIGS.

The Effect of Graphic Input Devices on Performance in a Cursor Positioning Task

This study examines the effect of several graphical input devices on human performance in a cursor positioning task. The light pen, touchscreen, force joystick, position joystick, data tablet, trackboard, and keyboard are the input devices tested. There are two main objectives in the study: (1) to obtain a quantitative measure of user performance for a wide range of input devices, and (2) to provide design guidelines for the development of new input devices. This second goal is reached by determining the effect of two device features on user performance: whether a switch is used to “enter” the cursor position, and (2) whether the user's eyes and hands work together or separately. Performance is evaluated in terms of speed, accuracy, and subjective factors.

The detailed semantics of graphics input devices

The concept of virtual input devices, enunciated by Wallace, has been the accepted basis for producing device-independent interactive graphics systems. It was used by GSPC for the Core System, and it underlies the draft international standard GKS. During the recently concluded technical review of GKS, the input facilities became a bone of contention. The discussions revealed many inadequacies in the virtual input device concept, and were finally resolved using a refined and extended model of input, which is presented here by some of the participants in the discussions. Examples are included, showing how the GKS facilities derive from the model, and the Core's “STROKE” device is used to show how the model controls future extensions to GKS. The model is also used to describe the other differences between the input facilities of the Core System and GKS.

The message is the medium

An innovative design for an interactive paint program has been developed based on multiple processes and message passing. Traditional paint programs combine interrupt-driven support of a graphical input device, such as a mouse or tablet, with the coloring of pixels in a raster display. We advocate a different design methodology which is illustrated in our implementation. The multiple processes and message passing primitives provided by some real-time operating systems encourage the design of parallel-program architectures and anthropomorphic programming structures, analogous to artist procedures and the metaphors of Smalltalk. The Thoth operating system was used to experiment with such an anthropomorphic design. Thoth provides a hospitable environment in which to investigate the distribution of algorithms between software and microprogrammed hardware processes, the performance and responsiveness of a multiple-process interactive program, and experimental user interfaces using an Ikonas 3000 frame buffer. The paint program consists of processes which handle the graphics tablet, track an iconic cursor, paint a selection of brushes, fill regions of the image, draw lines, and implement the user interface. Some processes have been implemented both in software and microcode.

GRAMPS - A graphics language interpreter for real-time, interactive, three-dimensional picture editing and animation

GRAMPS, a graphics language interpreter has been developed in FORTRAN 77 to be used in conjunction with an interactive vector display list processor (Evans and Sutherland Multi-Picture-System). Several of the features of the language make it very useful and convenient for real-time scene construction, manipulation and animation. The GRAMPS language syntax allows natural interaction with scene elements as well as easy, interactive assignment of graphics input devices. GRAMPS facilitates the creation, manipulation and copying of complex nested picture structures. The language has a powerful macro feature that enables new graphics commands to be developed and incorporated interactively. Animation may be acheived in GRAMPS by two different, yet mutually compatible means. Picture structures may contain “framed” data, which consist of a sequence of fixed objects. These structures may be displayed sequentially to give a traditional frame animation effect. In addition, transformation information on picture structures may be saved at any time in the form of new macro commands that will transform these structures from one saved state to another in a specified number of steps, yielding an interpolated transformation animation effect. An overview of the GRAMPS command structure is given and several examples of application of the language to molecular modeling and animation are presented.

Acoustic radar graphic input device

Accurate X,Y position determining digitizers presently require a precision array of wires embedded in the tablet. In rear-projection tablets these wires tend to limit the optical quality of images projected on the screen. Principles of acoustic radar are applied in a device which achieves better resolution, at a lower cost and without the use of wires, either in a tablet or a cursor. The function of acoustic reflectors for automatic calibration is described, achieving an accuracy of + mn; 0.01% of the distance to the sensors. In the case of small tablets, a hand-held stylus may be tracked at the rate of 900 locations a second.

The semantics of graphical input

Any graphical input device may be represented by a data structure, modified from time to time by actions in response to certain events, and the ability to cause certain events as part of its repertoire of actions. Portions of a device's state may be made visible to other devices in a controlled way, and the remainder hidden. Conversely, a device may make use of the visible portions of another device's state. Typically, the pattern of device interaction forms a hierarchy, but no device is part of any other. This provides for the interchangeability of a single device with a group of devices, and allows a single device to support the function of several others. Device independence is thus enhanced without the usual sacrifice of human factors considerations. A group of devices defined in this manner can simulate any group of devices defined in the usual manner. Conversely, useful groups of devices may be defined, which cannot conveniently be simulated by the usual input semantics. The proposed semantic is thus more complete, and provides the additional benefit of a uniform language for describing both physical and virtual devices.

System Design Considerations for Graphics Input Devices

A simple classification of graphics input requirements relates types of information to types of devices, giving the system designer a framework for overall design decisions.

Graphics displays: Factors in systems design

The design of a computer-graphics system entails selection of subsystem components such as graphics-output devices, graphics-input devices, and display generators. Aiding in the design of special equipment for specific requirements are systems organizations that assist in building computer interfaces and evolving suitable software.

Constructing Programs from Example Computations

An autoprogrammer is an interactive computer programming system which automatically constructs computer programs from example computations executed by the user. The example calculations are done in a scratch pad fashion at a computer display using a light pen or other graphic input device, and the system stores a detailed history of all of the steps executed in the process. Then the system automatically synthesizes the shortest possible program which is capable of executing the observed examples. The paper describes the computational environment provided by the system, proves that the program synthesis technique is both sound and complete, describes the design of the system, and gives some programs it was used to create.

Remote programmability of graphic interactions in a host/satellite configuration

This paper describes the remote programmability of graphic-oriented interactions in a large, time-shared host/multiple-satellite configuration. The philosophy and architecture of a pseudo machine -- the Programmable Graphics Processor (PGP) -- is presented along with a description of the higher-level language used in the host to specify programs for execution in the satellite. These programs are first compiled into PGP machine language in the host and then transmitted to the satellite where they are executed in response to asynchronous interrupts (attentions) originating from various types of interactive graphic input devices. In this manner, fairly complex and tailored interactions such as multiple line rubberbanding and limited area tracking are specified conveniently by applications programs in the host computer.