To compare the advantages and disadvantages of a "natural user interface" a field study was carried out at the largest computer fair in Switzerland. Four different computer stations were presented to the public: 1) with a command language; 2) with a mouse; 3) with a touch screen; and 4) a digital playing desk (DPD) interface. With the DPD the user has to play a board game by moving a real chip an a virtual playing field against a virtual player. The task was to win the computer game. The reactions of the virtual player were simulated by "emoticons" as colored comic strip pictures with a corresponding sound pattern. We investigated the effects of these four different interaction techniques. Results of the inquiry show that the touch screen station was rated as the easiest to use interaction technique, followed by the mouse, DPD interface and the command language interface. From the results of the field test we conclude that the DPD as a graspable user interface with emotional, non-verbal feedback is a promising candidate for the next generation of dialog techniques.
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