Pointing Devices for Navigation in Windows-Based Machine-Controllers

Abstract Windows-orientated software systems, such as WINDOWS, OS/2, MAC OS have meanwhile become the state-of-the-art in the field of home and office computers. They considerably ease the handling of complex systems for beginners due to the utilisation of well known metaphors, such as paper basket, file, sand-glass as well as direct manipulation techniques (e.g. Drag-and-Drop). Hence it is not surprising, that these systems are also used more and more in the field of industrial applications. Unfortunately developers do not take into account several important differences between office and industrial applications. One important difference is surely the necessity for a mouse-replacement, as a standard office mouse is not applicable due to dirt and the absence of a rolling surface. This paper will describe the problem and evaluate alternative devices.