Interaction Techniques and Pointing Task: A Preliminary Analysis to Understand How to Characterize the User Abilities in Virtual Environment

Abstract : The study aims to detect how the skills of a participant using a specific interaction technique can be qualified with behavioural data as number of click or miss click. Three interaction techniques were used: the gamepad, the mouse and the Razer Hydra. Users were first trained then they had to complete a pointing task. We then created two subgroups of participants: one with good abilities to use the interaction technique and one with low skill with a clustering hierarchical analysis and then compared subgroups. The Fitts throughput score during a pointing task allow to differentiate users with good abilities from other for the gamepad and the Razer Hydra but not for the mouse. These results could help to understand how familiar is a user with an interaction technique.