Evaluation of edge-based interaction on a square smartwatch. Issue 109 (January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ahn, Sunggeun; Lee, Jaeyeon; Park, Keunwoo; Lee, Geehyuk
• Is Part Of: International journal of human-computer studies. Issue 109(2018)
• Page Start: 68
• Page End: 78
• Publication Date: 2018-01
• Subjects: Smartwatch user interface -- Edge-based interaction -- Edge × screen interaction -- Square watch interaction; Human-machine systems -- Periodicals; Systems engineering -- Periodicals; Human engineering -- Periodicals; Human engineering; Human-machine systems; Systems engineering; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 004.019
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhcs.2017.08.004
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1071-5819

Abstract

Highlights: Exploration of edge-based interaction for a square smartwatch: single-edge, multiple-edge, and, edge x screen techniques. Evaluation of 1D and 2D pointing using square smartwatch edges in comparison with touchscreen-based pointing. Qualitative and quantitative empirical data for the design of edge x screen interaction. Discussion of design options of edge x screen interaction based on the empirical results. Abstract: Researchers are proposing many approaches to overcome the usability problem of a smartwatch owing to its small touchscreen. One of the promising approaches is to use touch-sensing edges to expand the control space of a smartwatch. We considered possible interaction techniques using touch-sensing edges in combination with the smartwatch touchscreen: single-edge, multi-edge, and edge × screen (edge and touchscreen in combination). We call these techniques square watch interaction (SWI) techniques in this paper because they exploit the form factor of a square smartwatch. To explore the design space and evaluate the usability of the SWI techniques, we implemented a square smartwatch prototype with touch-sensitive edges, and conducted a series of user experiments. The experiment results showed that the SWI techniques enable precise 1D pointing and occlusion-free 2D pointing. The experiments also produced empirical data that reflect human manual skills for the edge × screen techniques. The produced empirical data will provide a practical guideline for the application of the edge × screen techniques.