Abstract

Most computer interactions occur via a direct manipulation interface, also called a WIMP (window, icon, menu, pointing device) interface. The most obvious way to improve human-computer interaction is to create specialized input devices and interaction techniques to use in combination with WIMP interfaces. A more challenging approach is to develop new interfaces with interaction styles more closely related A new method for analyzing 3D goal-directed movements provides more insights than existing approaches by to real-world interactions— also called post-WIMP interfaces. For example, mixed-reality environments, which combine tangible and virtual interaction, offer great opportunities for creating more intuitive forms of interaction. These interaction styles are more intuitive because they let people apply their existing skills dividing them into meaningful phases. An experiment applying a simple 3D task, resembling a standardized 2D multidirectional pointing task, yielded insights that can help by interacting with everyday researchers better identify input devices ’ and interaction techniques ’ strengths and weaknesses. objects. 1 However, this in itself doesn’t guarantee improved performance; we need systematic ways to establish new interaction techniques ’ performance. Several methods exist for evaluating 3D input devices and interaction techniques, most of which are fairly subjective—for instance, cognitive walkthroughs, heuristic evaluations, or preference questionnaires. 2 A more objective way to investigate performance is to observe the movements people carry out while interacting. One way to do this is by collecting and analyzing movement trajectories. We will show that dividing 3D goal-directed movement trajectories into distinct phases and characterizing these phases will provide better insight into how interaction movements are actually performed. 3D Interaction Movements In studies focusing on 2D interactions, researchers observe characteristics of interaction movements during the execution of basic tasks such as pointing, selecting, or steering. These standardized tasks are also included in an ISO standard (ISO

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