Performance Ergonomics

Since the introduction in 1995 of the original Contour Mouse (now the Perfit Mouse), many manufacturers have introduced new designs claiming to be the ultimate mousing solution. Prior to the Perfit Mouse, users had relatively few choices. Microsoft, Logitech, Kensington and Mouse Systems were the primary input device manufacturers. Since then a host of small companies have cropped up posing their new creations as having superior ergonomics.

Unfortunately, none of the new devices available take into account both Performance and Ergonomics.

The Perfit Mouse has undergone ISO 9241 testing specifically comparing the Contour Mouse to the industry standard Microsoft Ergonomic Mouse.
An excerpt from this study: "There was no significant performance differences between the two mice. However, The Contour mouse was rated higher than the Microsoft for most usability features and functions: the Contour mouse was independently rated significantly higher for comfort and comparatively rated significantly better for posture and comfort"
Click here for the condensed version of this study

A similar comparison was done between the Whale Mouse and the Microsoft Mouse.
The findings in summary were: The Microsoft mouse was significantly more comfortable than the Whale mouse. The Microsoft mouse was significantly easier to use and the Whale mouse was "difficult" to perform detailed movements.
Click here for the study from Cornell University

A study by Scott MacKenzie entitled: "Accuracy Measures for Evaluating Computer Pointing Devices" shows significant performance throughput differences between standard mice and trackballs, touchpads and joysticks. This study shows a 40% reduction in performance when using a trackball/touchpad versus a mouse. "The throughput was 4.9 bps for the mouse, 3.0 bps for the trackball, 1.8 bps for the joystick and 2.9 bps for the touchpad. The main effect for device was clearly significant."
Click here to view this study

The latest "style" of ergonomic to be introduced are the different variations of vertical mice. These are designs that place the hand in a sideways posture and support the hand in a way requiring the mouse to be controlled using larger muscle groups and not the fingers and hand. During our testing phase of over 100 different mouse design variations, several vertical mouse ideas were explored. After building working prototypes and testing these "vertical" shapes. We discovered that this design, while providing initial relief from strain, decreased the users productivity to a level that was completely unsatisfactory to all of our test subjects. In addition to this, the sideways positioning of the buttons, required additional "pinch force" as the thumb was needed to oppose the pressure of the fingers to click the buttons without causing undesired cursor movement. Since our dismissing this design, we have found the following article by Scott MacKenzie which reinforces our findings.

Performance Differences in the Fingers, Wrist and Forearm in Computer Input Control: This article discusses the Motor homunculus. Figure 1 in this article shows the relative amount of cortical area of the brain devoted to each muscle group. With the hand, in comparison to the elbow, wrist and shoulder taking a much larger area.
Click here to view this article

More recently, our in-house Certified Associate Ergonomist, James Golden, has written an article to be published in ErgoSolutions Magazine. This is the first of two essays on Productivity, Input Devices, and Ergonomics.
Click here for the article

There are additional studies as well that can be reviewed here at your leisure.

We feel that the Original Perfit Mouse and now the new Perfit Mouse Optical is in many circumstances can help users reduce or eliminate hand and wrist pain and fatigue, without reducing the users performance. Seven years in the marketplace and thousands of customers like Intel, Pixar, Sun Microsystems, Peoplesoft, Oracle and Boeing to name a few. These customers buy the Perfit Mouse for two reasons. It helps reduce users pain, and allows them to perform their jobs effectively.
Please take some time to review some of our endorsements. These are our customers, real people who have experienced the benefit of the Perfit Mouse. Many of these people have tried anything and everything available and finally settled on the Perfit Mouse.

Please click here if you would like to respond to this article. We welcome your comments.