Using the mouse is not always the most effective way to perform computer tasks. For example, tasks are performed on average 30% faster with the help of shortcuts (Lane et al., 2005 / Tak, 2007). In addition, there are indications that the use of shortcuts can improve working comfort and that users can go home fitter if they use more shortcuts (Blok et al., 2008). Hot keys are therefore a good solution for structurally reducing mouse use and, moreover, working faster and more efficiently.
Research shows that the average computer user uses the mouse behind the computer about half the time. When the use of the mouse is halved, the user can already save 20 minutes a day. However, mouse use will always be necessary, because many modern applications only have limited or even no shortcut options.
Performance effects
Research shows that a separate mouse when used with a laptop leads to a clear improvement in performance (Sommerich et al., 2002). Replacing a standard mouse with an ergonomic variant, then increases comfort considerably. At the same time, however, it reduces the speed. Because although you often work healthier with an ergonomic mouse, this happens (slightly) less quickly than with a standard mouse.
Scott Mackenzie of York University in Canada convincingly demonstrated the lower speed of ergonomic mice. He had test subjects perform the same type of mouse task a large number of times. The test subjects became faster and faster with the touchpad and the joystick mouse. But as the graph shows, the speed was highest for the regular mouse, followed by touchpad and joystick (MacKenzie et al., 2001).
Performance effects ergonomic mice
Central mice
In line with the aforementioned Mackenzie study, several studies found that a touchpad is clearly slower than a standard mouse. Depending on the task performed, the time required for the touchpad was at least 25% lower (Hertzum & Hornbaek, 2010; Lee & Su, 2008). This is because you cannot reach the target in one move with a touch pad. This also applies to the central mice.
Precision mice
Pen tablets are slower to perform mouse tasks than standard mice (Müller et al., 2010). However, for tasks with great precision, such as photo editing, a pen mouse is actually faster than a standard mouse (Chen et al., 2011). Learning a pen and tablet is fast, so that after a day of practice the performance is equal to a standard mouse (Kotani & Horii, 2003). It should be noted that the task in the investigation only required mouse actions. This is of course not in line with daily computer use where keyboard and mouse actions are always alternated. Picking up a pen requires more time than grabbing a mouse.
Vertical mice
The handshake mouse, or: a vertical mouse is 10 to 19% slower than the regular mouse (Quemelo & Ramos Vieira, 2013; Scarlett et al., 2005). The vertical mouse is considerably faster than a joystick mouse (Scarlett et al., 2005).