Combining force and kinematic signals for human-computer interface: insights from cursor control by flexible pressure sensors

Abstract

Cursor control becomes difficult in space-constrained environments, such as operating portable computers while wearing pressurised gloves. Flexible pressure sensorscan capture fingertip kinematic (centre of pressure, CoP) and force signals within confined spaces, offering a potential control method. In two experiments, we evaluated mappings that transformed kinematic and/or force signals into cursor movements. A hybrid mapping usingCoP displacement and peak force to control cursor velocity achieved the highest throughput. Compared with a commercial TrackPoint, the hybrid mapping achieved 63% of its throughput but yielded smoother trajectories, indicating a speed-stability trade-off. These findings demonstrate the potential of fingertip pressure for cursor control in constrained environments and the benefits of combining kinematic and force information in human-machine interaction when hand motion is limited.