How to build a hard-to-use mouse

ABSTRACT

Computer games do not afford much physical activity and hence do not require significant energy expenditure, which can contribute to the prevalence of a sedentary lifestyle. A "hand exerciser" handgrip can help strengthen hand and forearm muscles through a simple spring mechanism. We are presenting the mousegrip, an exertion interface to control computer games while simultaneously exercising hand and arm muscles based on a handgrip device. Unlike conventional vision or accelerometer-based exertion interface devices, the mousegrip is very low-cost and supports cheap force-feedback through a simple spring mechanism. Due to its low cost, its mobile form factor and compatibility to existing mouse drivers, the mousegrip can augment traditional mouse interactions with an exertion activity to make exercising more enjoyable, and gameplay healthier. It provides a familiar affordance of interaction and supports increased calorie expenditure, hence contributing to people's fitness. We hope to encourage other researchers to incorporate exertion activity into their interfaces in order to support a healthy lifestyle.

REFERENCES

• 1: Hitti, M. Handgrip Exercises May Lower Blood Pressure. WebMD Oct 8, 2004. http://www.webmd.com/content/article/95/103180.htm
• 2: http://stoppong.com.au
• 3: Florian Mueller , Stefan Agamanolis , Rosalind Picard, Exertion interfaces: sports over a distance for social bonding and fun, Proceedings of the SIGCHI conference on Human factors in computing systems, April 05-10, 2003, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, USA [doi>10.1145/642611.642709]
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• 5: Top End Sports. Handgrip strength test. http://www.topendsports.com/testing/tests/handgrip.htm
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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.5 INFORMATION INTERFACES AND PRESENTATION (I.7)
      H.5.2 User Interfaces (D.2.2, H.1.2, I.3.6)

General Terms:
Design, Human Factors

Keywords:
RSI, active, exercise, exertion interface, exhausting, handgrip, physical, sports, sweat, tangible