{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,13]],"date-time":"2025-10-13T14:41:43Z","timestamp":1760366503917,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":20,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"8","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2021,4,7]],"date-time":"2021-04-07T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1617753600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100008530","name":"European Regional Development Fund","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["Centro\u201001\u20100145\u2010FEDER\u2010000017\u2010EMaDeS"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["Centro\u201001\u20100145\u2010FEDER\u2010000017\u2010EMaDeS"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100008530","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100001871","name":"Funda\u00e7\u00e3o para a Ci\u00eancia e a Tecnologia","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["UIDB\/00151\/2020 C\u2010MAST"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UIDB\/00151\/2020 C\u2010MAST"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100001871","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["IJERPH"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Prevention of musculoskeletal disorders is supported by use of slanted rather than horizontal pointing devices, but user acceptance of the former may be compromised due to lower perceived ease of use. This study compares subjectively rated usability (N = 37) for three sizes of slanted computer mice and includes a horizontal small conventional device as a reference. For a random subset of the sample (n = 10), objective usability parameters were also elicited. Participants followed a standard protocol which is based on executing graphical pointing, steering, and dragging tasks generated by a purpose-built software. Subjective ratings were collected for each of the four pointing devices tested. The three slanted devices differed in size but were chosen because of an approximately similar slant angle (around 50\u201360 degrees relative to the horizontal plane). Additionally, effectiveness and efficiency were objectively calculated based on data recorded for the graphical tasks\u2019 software for a random subset of the participants (n = 10). The results unveil small differences in preference in some of the subjective usability parameters across hand size groups. This notwithstanding, the objective efficiency results are aligned with the subjective results, indicating consistency with the hypothesis that smaller slanted devices relative to the user\u2019s hand size are easier to use than larger ones. Mean values of weighted efficiency recorded in the study range from 68% to 75%, with differences across devices coherent with preference rank orders.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph18083854","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2021,4,7]],"date-time":"2021-04-07T03:52:03Z","timestamp":1617767523000},"page":"3854","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Usability Evaluation of Slanted Computer Mice"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"18","author":[{"given":"Miguel L.","family":"Louren\u00e7o","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Research Unit for Inland Development, Guarda Polytechnic Institute, 6300-559 Guarda, Portugal"},{"name":"Centre for Mechanical and Aerospace Science and Technologies, Department of Electromechanical Engineering, Universidade da Beira Interior, 6201-001 Covilh\u00e3, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3776-7171","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"F\u00e1tima","family":"Lanhoso","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centre for Mechanical and Aerospace Science and Technologies, Department of Electromechanical Engineering, Universidade da Beira Interior, 6201-001 Covilh\u00e3, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9759-9133","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Denis A.","family":"Coelho","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Human Factors and Ergonomics Research Group, Department of Supply Chain and Operations Management, School of Engineering, J\u00f6nk\u00f6ping University, 551-11 J\u00f6nk\u00f6ping, Sweden"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2021,4,7]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"299","DOI":"10.3233\/WOR-2009-0828","article-title":"Children and computer use in the home: Workstations, behaviors and parental attitudes","volume":"32","author":"Kimmerly","year":"2009","journal-title":"Work"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"157","DOI":"10.3233\/WOR-182785","article-title":"A tentative efficiency index for pointing device use in computer aided design: A pilot study","volume":"61","author":"Coelho","year":"2018","journal-title":"Work"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"123","DOI":"10.3233\/WOR-203242","article-title":"Dynamics of forearm muscle activity in slanted computer mice use","volume":"68","author":"Coelho","year":"2021","journal-title":"Work"},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"727","DOI":"10.1016\/j.clinbiomech.2008.01.013","article-title":"Smaller external notebook mice have different effects on posture and muscle activity","volume":"23","author":"Hengel","year":"2008","journal-title":"Clin. Biomech."},{"key":"ref_5","unstructured":"Louren\u00e7o, L.M.L., Pitarma, R.A., and Coelho, D.A. (2016). Association of hand size with usability assessment parameters of a standard handheld computer pointing device. Occupational Safety and Hygiene IV, Taylor & Francis."},{"key":"ref_6","unstructured":"Bridger, R. (2018). Introduction to Ergonomics, CRC Press."},{"key":"ref_7","unstructured":"International Organization for Standardization (2018). ISO 9241: Ergonomics of Human-System Interaction-Part 11: Usability: Definitions and Concepts, International Organization for Standardization."},{"key":"ref_8","unstructured":"International Organization for Standardization (2016). 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Factors"},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"573","DOI":"10.1518\/001872007X215665","article-title":"Alternative computer mouse design and testing to reduce finger extensor muscle activity during mouse use","volume":"49","author":"Lee","year":"2007","journal-title":"Hum. Factors"},{"key":"ref_20","unstructured":"Siegel, S., and Castellan, N.J. (1981). Nonparametric Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences, McGraw-Hill Book Company."}],"container-title":["International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1660-4601\/18\/8\/3854\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,13]],"date-time":"2025-10-13T13:58:45Z","timestamp":1760363925000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1660-4601\/18\/8\/3854"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2021,4,7]]},"references-count":20,"journal-issue":{"issue":"8","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2021,4]]}},"alternative-id":["ijerph18083854"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/ijerph18083854","relation":{},"ISSN":["1660-4601"],"issn-type":[{"type":"electronic","value":"1660-4601"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2021,4,7]]}}}