Design and validation of a novel ergonomic computer mouse (pointer) by research by design method

Rapidly developing information and communication technologies have increased the amount of time spend using computers. Therefore, the number of computer mouse users and their usage times have also increased. This increase brought along the discomfort and pain caused by the contraction of the hand. Current Mouse designs do not support the neutral resting position of the hand on the table. The aim of this thesis; is to design and develop a Mouse that can hold the hand closest to the neutral position and to test the mouse prototype to achieve minimum muscle tension during use. Aesthetic qualities, functional performance, and ergonomics research are within the scope of this research. A user centered research methodology is applied to assess perceived aesthetics and quality of the prototype. Functional competence assessed by a series of custom performance tests. The prototype was tested ergonomically by measuring the tensions of three muscle groups in the fore-arms of users with an EMG device. The market leader Mouse that is advertised as ergonomical, is taken as a benchmark and compared with the prototype Mouse. Based on the responses of the users it can be said that the prototype Mouse is preferred in terms of aesthetic, functional, and ergonomic qualities.