Evaluating input device usability as a function of task difficulty in a tracking task

Practitioner Summary: Game controllers are being used more often for non-gaming purposes include teleoperation of unmanned vehicles. This research investigates the utility of such devices for complex tasks, especially following extensive practice. The game controller was associated with lower workload and fewer errors, indicating its suitability for complex control tasks. Game controllers are emerging as a preferred choice for the manual control of unmanned vehicles, but an understanding of their usability characteristics has yet to emerge. We compared the usability of an Xbox 360 game controller in a dual task situation using MATB II to the traditional joystick and keyboard interface in two experiments. In the first experiment, performance with the game controller was associated with fewer tracking errors. In a second experiment, we trained users on the devices, and found that even after training the game controller was still associated with fewer tracking errors as well as higher usability and lower workload ratings. These results are consistent with the idea that game controllers are highly usable input devices and do not require high mental workload to operate, thus making them suitable for complex control tasks.