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Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of sitting and standing on performance and touch characteristics during a digit entry touch screen task in individuals with and without motor-control disabilities. Background: Previously, researchers of touch screen design have not considered the effect of posture (sitting vs. standing) on touch screen performance (accuracy and timing) and touch characteristics (force and impulse). Method: Participants with motor-control disabilities ( n = 15) and without ( n = 15) completed a four-digit touch screen number entry task in both sitting and standing postures. Button sizes varied from 10 mm to 30 mm (5-mm increments), and button gap was 3 mm or 5 mm. Results: Participants had more misses and took longer to complete the task during standing for smaller button sizes (<20 mm). At larger button sizes, performance was similar for both sitting and standing. In general, misses, time to complete task, and touch characteristics were increased for standing. Although disability affected performance (misses and timing), similar trends were observed for both groups across posture and button size. Conclusion: Standing affects performance at smaller button sizes (<20 mm). For participants with and without motor-control disabilities, standing led to greater exerted force and impulse. Application: Along with interface design considerations, environmental conditions should also be considered to improve touch screen accessibility and usability.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of button size and spacing on touch characteristics (forces, impulses, and dwell times) during a digit entry touch screen task. A secondary objective was to investigate the effect of disability on touch characteristics. Background: Touch screens are common in public settings and workplaces. Although research has examined the effect of button size and spacing on performance, the effect on touch characteristics is unknown. Method: A total of 52 participants ( n = 23, fine motor control disability; n = 14, gross motor control disability; n = 15, no disability) completed a digit entry task. Button sizes varied from 10 mm to 30 mm, and button spacing was 1 mm or 3 mm. Results: Touch characteristics were significantly affected by button size. The exerted peak forces increased 17% between the largest and the smallest buttons, whereas impulses decreased 28%. Compared with the fine motor and nondisabled groups, the gross motor group had greater impulses (98% and 167%, respectively) and dwell times (60% and 129%, respectively). Peak forces were similar for all groups. Conclusion: Button size but not spacing influenced touch characteristics during a digit entry task. The gross motor group had significantly greater dwell times and impulses than did the fine motor and nondisabled groups. Application: Research on touch characteristics, in conjunction with that on user performance, can be used to guide human computer interface design strategies to improve accessibility of touch screen interfaces. Further research is needed to evaluate the effect of the exerted peak forces and impulses on user performance and fatigue.

Objective: A laboratory study investigated the relationship between power hand tool and task-related factors affecting threaded fastener torque accuracy and associated handle reaction force. Background: We previously developed a biodynamic model to predict handle reaction forces. We hypothesized that torque accuracy was related to the same factors that affect operator capacity to react against impulsive tool forces, as predicted by the model. Method: The independent variables included tool (pistol grip on a vertical surface, right angle on a horizontal surface), fastener torque rate (hard, soft), horizontal distance (30 cm and 60 cm), and vertical distance (80 cm, 110 cm, and 140 cm). Ten participants (five male and five female) fastened 12 similar bolts for each experimental condition. Results: Average torque error (audited − target torque) was affected by fastener torque rate and operator position. Torque error decreased 33% for soft torque rates, whereas handle forces greatly increased (170%). Torque error also decreased for the far horizontal distance 7% to 14%, when vertical distance was in the middle or high, but handle force decreased slightly 3% to 5%. Conclusion: The evidence suggests that although both tool and task factors affect fastening accuracy, they each influence handle reaction forces differently. We conclude that these differences are attributed to different parameters each factor influences affecting the dynamics of threaded faster tool operation. Fastener torque rate affects the tool dynamics, whereas posture affects the spring-mass-damping biodynamic properties of the human operator. Application: The prediction of handle reaction force using an operator biodynamic model may be useful for codifying complex and unobvious relationships between tool and task factors for minimizing torque error while controlling handle force.