The Springboard: Multiple Modes in One Spring-loaded Control

Modes allow a few inputs to invoke many operations, yet if
a user misclassifies or forgets the state of a system, modes
can result in errors. Spring-loaded modes (quasimodes)
maintain a mode while the user holds a control such as a
button or key. The Springboard is an interaction technique
for tablet computers that extends quasimodes to encompass
multiple tool modes in a single spring-loaded control. The
Springboard allows the user to continue holding down a
nonpreferred-hand command button after selecting a tool
from a menu as a way to repeatedly apply the same tool.
We find the Springboard improves performance for both a
local marking menu and for a non-local marking menu
("lagoon") at the lower left corner of the screen. Despite the
round-trip costs incurred to move the pen to a tool lagoon, a
keystroke-level analysis of the true cost of each technique
reveals the local marking menu is not significantly faster.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Modes
• tablet
• pen
• marking menus
• keystroke-level model
• software
• technology
• Microsoft Research
• slates
• mode switching
• gestures
• experimental analysis