Biomechanics of index finger during mouse click

Abstract

In this paper, the biomechanics model of index finger flexion-extension during mouse click was formulated to analyze the force applied on the mouse button change throughout the duration of mouse click. The biomechanics model was formulated by solving nonlinear differential equations consisting of nonlinear mouse spring equation and Newton-Euler dynamic equation of three links open-chain. The model was successfully solved. The fingertip force-time characteristics of index finger during switch compression obtained from the mathematical model followed the similar trend as the fingertip force over time of keyboard switch. Nevertheless, the duration of click based on such model is significantly less than the survey data. This may be due to the fact that the model does not take the viscoelastic properties of fingertip pulp during switch compression into account. Moreover, the result obtain from such model has not been successfully validated by the real experiment. Hence, the model validation with the experiment on the force applied on the mouse switch during activation must be further investigated. © Springer-Verlag 2010.