Bimanual computer input and forearm support implemented and evaluated in an integrated system

This work addresses issues in providing more efficient, intuitive, and comfortable computer input. These are important problems because the costs associated with poor computer interfaces are high—from steep learning curves and wasted time to disabling injury. An integrated approach to these problems is taken by providing both forearm support and bimanual (two-handed) input. Work in this area requires development of both new hardware—to enable new forms of input, and new software—to use this input in meaningful ways.;For hardware, forearm support is first explored through a study which verifies its comfort benefits. Building on these findings, a new computer input device, the “Command Chair,” is presented to provide forearm support, and bimanual pointer input. The Command Chair approach allows the designer to better control user body activities and postures, with the goal of providing comfort over a full workday.;New workstation throughput tests are presented along with conventional pointing tests to quantify Command Chair performance relative to other workstations. Test measures demonstrate that the Command Chair improves wrist posture and reduces subjective wrist fatigue relative to traditional stations, but also currently provides slower input speed.;A new technique to evaluate workstation tradeoffs between comfort and efficiency is developed to interpret these results on a monetary basis. This analysis indicates that the Command Chair is less costly to operate than a traditional input station when used longer than a month. This result verifies that the Command Chair provides improved overall performance relative to a traditional workstation.;For software, a new bimanual technique called “Bimanual Marking Menus” is developed to provide bimanual command selection. A shape-drawing test environment is used to compare this technique with five other techniques. The fastest input method and subjectively most preferred is Bimanual Marking Menus. The results of this experiment verify the potential of bimanual input, and provide a new and powerful bimanual technique.;As a whole, this work provides evidence supporting the benefits of both forearm support and bimanual computer input. Additionally, this work demonstrates how bimanual input and forearm support can be leveraged for improved usability, efficiency, and comfort in human-computer interaction.