Direction-of-motion stereotypes for circular displays and thumbwheels were
tested with a computer display. The influence of pointer position, instruct
ion of turn, and control plane on the direction-of-motion stereotype was in
vestigated. For both horizontal and vertical thumbwheels, strong response p
references and reversible stereotypes were found for clockwise and anticloc
kwise turn instructions when the pointer was perpendicular to the motion ax
is. The results provided significant implications for the design and select
ion of thumbwheels and check reading displays in the man-machine interface
of facilities used in industries. In a check reading display, we should use
a horizontal thumbwheel when the normal pointer position is at 6 or 12 o'c
lock; a vertical thumbwheel should be used when the normal pointer position
is at 3 or 9 o'clock. Analysis on response times showed that the average v
alues of the majority responses were found shorter and mon narrowly dispers
ed than that of the minority responses. The results of this study provide r
ecommendations for interface design with circular displays and thumbwheels
on control panels used in manufacturing systems. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons
. Inc.