An Ergonomic Evaluation of a Hybrid Keyboard and Game Controller

A laboratory experiment with 20 Ss compared performance, posture, and discomfort ratings for typing and video-gaming tasks performed using either a prototype hybrid game controller and keyboard (AG), or a conventional keyboard and a conventional game controller. Posture was measured using wrist monitoring apparatus and video-motion analysis. Performance was measured by typing speed, accuracy, game scores and a dexterity task. Comfort was measured by questionnaire. Results showed that after an initial 15-minutes of use, Ss were able to type on the AG at 9.35 wpm with 92% accuracy of use, and performance on a video game and on a dexterity task were comparable. Subjects reported significantly greater right thumb and right and left pinky finger discomfort after the typing task using the AG, when compared to the other 4 tasks. For the gaming there was no significant difference between devices.