Implicit directional cues in arrowhead cursors could influence positioning of the cursor on the computer screen. Performance during cursor placement may benefit from compatibilities between cursor orientation and direction of movement. Arrowheads could also elicit illusory processes that may affect judgments of: 1) distances on the screen, or 2) location of the point of the arrowhead. To address the impact of a cursor's orientation on its positioning, a study was conducted in which 12 subjects moved cursors leftward or rightward to targets on a computer screen. Movement amplitude was more important than cursor orientation for initiation of rightward movements, whereas cursor orientation affected the duration of leftward movements and movements to farther targets. Arrowhead orientation contributed to the greater overshooting of far targets. There was little evidence that compatibility of orientation and direction of movement assisted response initiation or execution or that arrowhead cursors led to illusory effects that influenced cursor placement. Arrowhead cursors can provide irrelevant stimulus dimensions that distract users. The use of orientation-neutral cursors or cursors whose stimulus dimensions are more relevant is recommended.
Abstract