Integrating Cursor Control into the Computer Keyboard

The objective of this research was to develop and test an integrated cursor control and clicking device called a KeyMouse. The bottom of a single key on a standard keyboard was instrumented with pressure transducers. When the key was fully depressed pressure variations across the surface of the key, caused by a rolling motion of the finger, could be used to control the cursor much like a traditional mouse. A usability study was conducted to determine the optimum layout and configuration of the KeyMouse and its associated click keys. Both subjective preference and performance data revealed a strong preference for a two handed configuration with cursor control via the dominant hand and operation of the click keys with the other.