Human motor performance while using a single-DOF visual-haptic interface

Applications of haptic displays in Human Computer Interfaces (HCI) are partly limited by the lack of generalizable guidelines and principles directing their implementation. The purpose of this research was to examine human visuo-motor behavior when visual and haptic feedback displays are integrated. A Fitts' Law paradigm involving a target acquisition task was used. Performance measures included movement time to complete the task as well as movement kinematics and kinetics. The variables manipulated included two target widths, two target amplitudes, and six haptic emulations. Damping forces over target areas result in the best performance. Spring forces over target areas resulted in the worse overall performance. Haptic emulations were found to be most effective as the Index of Difficulty increased. Motor planning changed as a function of the haptic emulation used. The implication of these findings is that the effectiveness of the HCI design is greatly influenced by haptics.