Cornell University Ergonomics Web

Summary of results from a recent web-based user's survey of users of Multitouch products (www.fingerworks.com) conducted by Cornell University.

Results show the percentage of users who responded positively to each question.

What users say they like about the Stealth and LP

• No longer have to reach for a mouse to the left or right of my keyboard

• The ability to combine keypresses with mouse gestures in one device is fantastic. Besides the convenience factor, I feel that it is much better ergonomically than a mouse or trackball or etc.

• Not having to move the hands over to the mouse, the back-space under the left thumb, the four finger-shifts, integrated mouse/arrows, gesture shortcuts, the editing gestures ... they save time (i.e.: speed you up)

• 1.Zero pressure although harder to use is definitely easier on injured hands.
  2.Great to not have to take hand off keyboard to reach for mouse
  3.Four finger shift is great.

• Having one interface for all my input.

• Being able to use gestures to perform common operations.

• Don't need a lot of pressure to make things go.

• the mouse gliding over the surface

• It is much easier on the fingers! I had repetitive strain injury in the past (but not immediately prior to using the Stealth.) It has by far the softest touch of any keyboard I have tried. I do not get as many twinges or wrist aches since using the Stealth keyboard. I am quite happy with it.

• The analog sense of gesture based keyboard inputs---how the extent and speed of the gestures translate to varying keyboard inputs. This makes cursor movement, paging, cycling through search results, undo/redo, etc., an order of magnitude more efficient than a regular keyboard-mouse combination
  

• The combined surface used for all inputs---I used to go out of my way to learn and configure applications to minimize the constant need to reach for the mouse

• Gestures and mousing are much easier than on a standard keyboard/mouse or keyboard/touchpad combination. I've also found that typing effectively on the Stealth enforces good typing habits - floating hands and bringing fingertips straight down, rather than resting hands and pressing down with pad of finger - which I should be doing anyway. The Stealth *might* be an improvement in not aggravating my RSI, but it's difficult to say. It'd certainly be an improvement if I had to use the mouse more.

• Mouse and Keyboard are combined eliminating reaching.

• I love the gesturing, although I have problems remembering all the gestures

• I like the large mouse area. Of prime importance is that no impact or pressure is required to use the keyboard. These factors on a regular keyboard quickly aggravate my wrists.

• The mouse feature. The regular mouse kills my hands, with the Stealth it is easy and natural.

• I like that very little movement is necessary to activate keys. I especially like the possibility of using this with other people with disabilities

What users say they like about the iGesture Pad

• Most of the finger and wrist problems I attribute to wrestling with a mouse have virtually disappeared. It's also great that it plugs right in to a Mac running 9 or X without any required software. (I have one at home and one at work.)

• Allows me to never have to do the 'clicking' that caused my repetitive stress injury.

• Quick macros; I do many cut/paste operations, and this speeds the process

• Gestures cut down on excessive keystroke combinations

• The use of gestures is very useful

• I like the ease of use when there is little or no desk space: Airplanes, car, coffee shop. I like the interested looks the iGesture gets.

• It is the best replacement for a mouse, or any mouse analogue, that I have found. I wish I could integrate it directly into my laptop.

• Zero pressure clicks, drags and typing. Motion saving gestures. Being able to gesture anywhere on the pad. Much easier cursor control than arrow keys.

• I like the gestures for surfing, editing and file operations

• I don't have to fear getting carpel tunnel in my left hand. I have it in my right and them changed the mouse to left hand. iGesture has given me confidence that I can 'save' my left hand.

• It requires only the slightest touch

• Since my RSI surgery, it is more comfortable to use than a mouse. There is no item to grip or reposition. Input is decidedly easier.

• Analog feel of gesture inputs

• The rather large amount of clicks that are saved simply by gesturing. The Linux/Mac support has also been very useful for me (I work in multiple environments).

• I can easily switch from right to left hands. Easy scrolling

• The fact that it serves multiple uses and can be plugged into any computer without much difficulty. I cannot wait to use the full keyboard.

• Gestures -- still learning -- While some pain has increased a little I think it is because of the stress in learning the new interface. I think it is overall less taxing on my fingers, hands, and wrist and that my condition will improve as I get use to the iGesture.

• Mousing and scrolling are very easy and much less painful than before

• It takes very little effort to the use it.

• The basic mouse replacement: 2 finger cursor, 2 finger tap click, 3 finger drag, 3 finger tap double click, 4 finger scroll. It works great with Photoshop.

• The gesturing is very useful.

• Form factor/size fits my work space.

• It is so easy to use. When other people looked at the different gestures required to use the iGesture pad, they said it would be like learning a whole new language, but it was so easy and very intuitive. The iGesture pad has significantly reduced my wrist and hand numbness.

• Being able to launch macros without leaving the mouse

• The unique gestures one can use to cut/paste and perform other functions. Also like the way one's hand is stretched in different directions, preventing repetitive stress injuries.

• Ability to perform functions with motion that required much more effort before. These are functions that are performed literally hundreds of times a day.

• The G-P is versatile, easy to use, I love the more complex function of the gestures.

• More useful than a standard mouse in many respects.

• The ease of typing and then using gestures for the mouse without having to use another device, not wasting a lot of desk space for a keyboard and mouse.

• Gestures are so cool and a HUGE help to my productivity.

• I think the gestural input system is very good for people in the 3D graphics and animation industries, because it enables you to act more intuitively with your 3d environment. For example I can pick up and object move it side to side, up and down, and scale it just by using the gesture system. Where otherwise I would have to choose the move tool with my keyboard and then select which direction I want it to go with my mouse. I think it has a lot of potential in these areas.

• It is ergonomically good to have a large pointing area. Several of the mouse design companies I have worked with have show that the bigger the mouse the better and the mini makes a nice large mouse area.
  It would not be good for a note book because you'd keep accidentally bumping it while typing.

• Light keystrokes

• We wanted to remove a full size keyboard and mouse from this PC as it sits at our front desk and is used as a network monitoring station.

• No impact mousing and gestures
• Several features of the Touchstream Mini are particularly useful:

1. Ability to easily switch between hands -- I have bilateral nerve and soft tissue damage in my arms, and this feature greatly decreases fatigue/symptom aggravation.
2. Very useful to concurrently use Mini and speech recognition software (editing text is much easier using Mini than relying solely on SRS).
3. Dimensions allow portability (ex: easy to take on travel for use with laptop computer) and ease of positioning device according to workplace setup. Cordless version would provide even greater convenience.
4. Ability to rest fingers on device once a motion is initiated. 5) Range of available actions.

• It allows me to use either hand with almost equal ease and this greatly reduces the strain in my right wrist that I would feel from constant mouse use.

• I cannot use a regular mouse because of my RSI. I rely on voice recognition instead of typing. The Mini is very helpful for cursor navigation, and for small corrections in text. Also, I can put it on my lap, which makes it easier and more ergonomic for me to use. Also, I have tried it at home with my Macintosh, on which I use a less robust speech recognition program, and it definitely enhances efficiency.

• The mousing and gestures are all intuitive and can be mixed in with the typing. This makes the Touchstream Mini superb for editing text accurately.