Use of the Graphic Tablet for Monitoring and Analysis of the Spatial and Temporal Characteristics of a Precise Manual Task
摘要
Graphics tablets are promising tools in the assessment of fine motor skills. There is a need to explore further the opportunities they offer for accurate exploration of spatial and temporal characteristics of movement. This study aimed to examine the use of the graphics tablet as a tool for the monitoring and subsequent analysis of a fine motor task. Two hundred young, healthy participants (M = 20.4; SD = 2.69) performed a continuous tracing task on a model circumference using a graphics tablet and a wireless pen. A descriptive analysis of four parameters of fine motor control was conducted: time error, trajectory error, tracing accuracy, and task accuracy. The results show that the graphics tablet can effectively monitor and analyze the spatial and temporal characteristics of precise manual tasks. The graphics tablet could be an accessible, low-cost, and effective tool to accurately monitor and assess these tasks in different populations and clinical and research settings.