Perceptual strategies under constrained movements on a zoomable haptic mobile device

Abstract

This study shows that zooming and pointing strategies are influenced by visual constraints when using a haptic mobile device. Participants were required to point on invisible targets that were only detectable via a tactile feedback. Movements were either constrained or unconstrained. Results revealed that pointing and zooming strategies depended on the order of training. Participants who started their training with unconstrained movements, kept using the same strategies even when constraints have been removed. This suggests that constrained movements allowed participants to explore other strategies that would have not been available and extended their repertoire of exploratory strategies related to the haptic zoom.