Chapter 9: Interaction Devices
9.3 Pointing Devices
Pointing devices are applicable in six types of interaction tasks:
1. Select:
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user chooses from a set of items.
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used for traditional menu selection, identification of a file in a directory,
or marking of a part in an automobile design.
2. Position:
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user chooses a point in a one-, two-, three-, or higher-dimensional space
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used to create a drawing, to place a new window, or to drag a block of
text in a figure.
3. Orient:
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user chooses a direction in a two-, three-, or higher-dimensional space.
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direction may simply rotate a symbol on the screen, indicate a direction
of motion for a space ship, or control the operation of a robot arm.
4. Path:
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user rapidly performs a series of position and orient operations.
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may be realized as a curving line in a drawing program, the instructions
for a cloth cutting machine, or the route on a map.
5. Quantify:
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user specifies a numeric value.
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usually a one-dimensional selection of integer or real values to set parameters,
such as the page number in a document, the velocity of a ship, or the amplitude
of a sound.
6. Text:
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user enters, moves, and edits text in a two-dimensional space. The
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pointing device indicates the location of an insertion, deletion, or change.
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more elaborate tasks, such as centering; margin setting; font sizes; highlighting,
such as boldface or underscore; and page layout.
