From: "J.R.S.Eyre" <J.R.S.Eyre@SOTON.AC.UK>
Subject: MISC: Input device questionnaire
Date:         Thu, 7 Sep 1995 13:43:05 +0100
Message-ID:  <199509071243.NAA03359@alder.soton.ac.uk>


I am currently trying to evaluate the usability of the variety of
pointing control input devices used with portable pc's, such as
trackballs, touchpads, etc., and comparing this with the usability of
a standard mouse.  I am also interested in the comparative usability
of non-standard or specialist input devices, such as 3D trackers,
touch-screens, and light-pointers.

To this end, I would, as I mentioned above, be MOST grateful if you
could fill in the brief questionnaire below, and e-mail it back to me
at the address given at the end of this message.


                  POINTING DEVICE EVALUATION QUESTIONNAIRE
                  ========================================

PORTABLE PC INPUT DEVICES - POINTING CONTROL
-------------------------

If the usability (i.e. ease of use) of a standard PC mouse for
POINTING at objects is equivalent to 100, what is the usability of the
following systems (e.g. twice as easy to use = 200, twice as difficult
to use = 50).  Please enter the name of the device or computer
tested/used (e.g. Toshiba, IBM etc.)  If experience of more than one
device in each category has been obtained, please enter the usability
for each device separately.  If no experience for any particular
category has been obtained, leave the corresponding fields blank.


                            Make of device/computer            Usability

1.      Trackball

2.      Touchpad

3.      Finger-operated
        joystick

4.      Button control

5.      Other device
        (please describe)


PORTABLE PC INPUT DEVICES - SELECTION CONTROL
-------------------------

If the usability (i.e. ease of use) of a standard PC mouse for SELECTING objects
(i.e. 'clicking' or 'double-clicking' on an object) is equivalent to 100, what
is the usability of the following systems:


                            Make of device/computer            Usability

1.      Trackball

2.      Touchpad

3.      Finger-operated
        mini-joystick

4.      Button control

5.      Other device
        (please describe)


PORTABLE PC INPUT DEVICES - DRAG CONTROL
-------------------------

If the usability (i.e. ease of use) of a standard PC mouse for DRAGGING objects
(i.e. holding down button & moving the cursor) is equivalent to 100, what
is the usability of the following systems:


                            Make of device/computer            Usability

1.      Trackball

2.      Touchpad

3.      Finger-operated
        mini-joystick

4.      Button control

5.      Other device
        (please describe)


NON-STANDARD/SPECIALIST INPUT DEVICES - POINTING CONTROL
-------------------------------------

If the usability (i.e. ease of use) of a standard PC mouse for POINTING at
objects is equivalent to 100, what is the usability of the following systems:


                                 Make of device                Usability

1.      3D space tracker

2.      3D trackball

3.      Touch screen

4.      Light (crt screen)
        pointer

5.      Other device
        (please describe)


NON-STANDARD/SPECIALIST INPUT DEVICES - SELECTION CONTROL
-------------------------------------

If the usability (i.e. ease of use) of a standard PC mouse for SELECTING objects
(i.e. 'clicking' or 'double-clicking' an object) is equivalent to 100, what is
the usability of the following systems:


                                 Make of device                Usability

1.      3D space tracker

2.      3D trackball

3.      Touch screen

4.      Light (crt screen)
        pointer

5.      Other device
        (please describe)


NON-STANDARD/SPECIALIST INPUT DEVICES - DRAG CONTROL
-------------------------------------

If the usability (i.e. ease of use) of a standard PC mouse for DRAGGING objects
(i.e. holding down button & moving the cursor) is equivalent to 100, what
is the usability of the following systems:


                            Make of device/computer            Usability

1.      Trackball

2.      Touchpad

3.      Finger-operated
        mini-joystick

4.      Button control

5.      Other device
        (please describe)


Please enter any additional comments below:



++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Once again, many thanks in anticipation for your time in completing this
questionnaire; once I've collated and analysed all the results I'll hopefully
post them back to the group.


Julian Eyre

e-mail: J.R.S.Eyre@soton.ac.uk