A Characteristic of Pointing Behavior with a Linear Cursor Key

A linear cursor key whose cursor speed on a CRT display is proportional to the force applied on the key top is presented in this paper. Three results were obtained as follows. Firstly, the positioning time by the linear cursor key can be made shorter than the time by the standard cursor key in the difficult positioning task with smaller size of the targets and longer distance to the targets. Secondly, positioning behavior consists of the approach behavior and the settlement behavior. In the approach behavior, subjects move the cursor to the edge of the targets as fast as possible. In the settlement behavior, subjects tap the cursor key repeatedly until the cursor moves in the targets. Each keystroke is performed without feedback control, because the duration of its behavior is shorter than the reaction time of the subjects. Finally, faster cursor speed is suitable for the approach behavior. On the other hand, slower cursor speed is suitable for the settlement behavior.