Challenges of the Present and Future

Abstract

It is difficult to imagine ergonomics research on pointing devices becoming more challenging, or essential, than it is at the present time. The graphical user interface with integrated pointing is now widely available for home, play and work environments — almost 30 years after the invention of the mouse. Furthermore, advances in hardware and software technology are moving interactive systems into 3D and virtual reality, and distributed real-time interaction such as computer-mediated conferencing and tele-operation. These demands and innovations will provide the incentive for the invention of novel pointing devices and the improvement of existing ones.