title: Development of a novel approach to the assessment of eye-hand coordination.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Current methods to measure eye-hand coordination (EHC) have been widely applied in research and practical fields. However, some aspects of the methods, such as subjectivity, high price, portability, and high appraisal contribute to difficulties in EHC testing.
  
  
  METHODS
  The test was developed on an Apple iPad(®) and involves tracing up to 13 shapes with a stylus pen. The time taken to complete each trace and the spatial accuracy of the tracing is automatically recorded. The difficulty level for each shape was evaluated theoretically based on the complexity and length of outline. Ten adults aged 31.5±7.8 years and five children aged 9.4±1.1 years with normal vision participated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In adults, the time taken to trace and number of errors significantly decreased from the first to the second attempt (p<0.05) but not thereafter, suggesting a learning effect with repeatability after a practice attempt. Time taken and number of errors in children were both higher in monocular than binocular viewing conditions (p=0.02 and p<0.01, respectively) while adults' performance was similar in both viewing conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Existing EHC tests are subjective in clinics and require higher skills and cost in research, and measure gross EHC. This novel test has been developed to address some of the limitations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The test is engaging for children and adults and is an objective method with potential for the assessment of fine EHC, suited to clinic-based and research use in ophthalmic or brain trauma settings, and in developmental disorders.
authors.affiliation: School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
authors.forename: Kiseok
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia. Electronic address: b.junghans@unsw.edu.au.
authors.forename: Barbara M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Junghans
authors.affiliation: School of Computer Science and Engineering, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
authors.forename: Malcolm
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.affiliation: School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
authors.forename: Sieu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khuu
authors.affiliation: School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia; School of Health Sciences, City University London, London EC1V 0HB, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Catherine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Suttle
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000470:Alkaloids; D002648:Child; D017076:Computer-Aided Design / Q000295:instrumentation; D005133:Eye Movements / Q000502:physiology*; D025461:Feedback, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; C110131:Wilcox compound
keywords: Computer-based; Development; Eye–hand coordination; Objective; Repeatability