4/24/02
4
Direct-control Pointing Devices
llightpen
 
l     enabled users to point to a spot on a screen and to perform a select, position, or other task
l     it allows direct control by pointing to a spot on the display
l     incorporates a button for the user to press when the cursor is resting on the desired spot on the screen
l     lightpen has three disadvantages: users' hands obscured part of the screen,
l     users had to remove their hands from the keyboard, and
l     users had to pick up the lightpen
 
ltouchscreen
 
l     allows direct control touches on the screen using a finger
l     early designs were rightly criticized for causing fatigue, hand-obscuring-the-screen,
l        hand-off-keyboard, imprecise pointing, and the
l     eventual smudging of the display
l     lift-off strategy enables users to point at a single pixel
l     the users touch the surface
l     then see a cursor that they can drag around on the display 
l     when the users are satisfied with the position, they lift their fingers off the display to activate
l     can produce varied displays to suit the task
l     are fabricated integrally with display surfaces