Abstract: | This article deals with performance evaluation of human operations in point‐to‐point displacement tasks using a joystick. Analysis of operator outputs during an experimental task revealed a pattern of partially overlapping submovements with predictable velocity characteristics and forms. A velocity‐dependent gain control added to the joystick–cursor interface improved performance when compared to a conventional linear transformation. This control algorithm can be recommended for many similar human–machine interfaces. A specific performance evaluation was applied to estimate the characteristics of different remote control designs. This approach can be used for evaluating human–machine systems. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. |