I recently experimented with implementing certain pointer-controlled effects on a <canvas>, and was discouraged by the jerky feeling caused by latency.
But I noticed that if I rendered the effect with motion blur, it suddenly started to feel much smoother, and the perception of jerkiness was mostly gone. I felt that it completely restored my sense of control of the motion.
It’s surprising considering that motion blur actually adds one half frame of extra latency.
Since trying this, I’m bothered by how jerky fast mouse movement always feels in MacOS. 60 fps leaves these enormous, ugly gaps between the pointer at each frame, and makes it hard to perceive the motion correctly. I can’t unsee these gaps now! I’m convinced that system-wide motion blur just for the pointer would be a simple way to make the whole OS feel much smoother and more responsive.
I have had a similar experience when first using a 144hz display. I was amazed how responsive the mouse was. How "in control" I felt.
Then, going back to a 60hz display, I couldn't NOT see the gaps left by the cursor's movement. I had never before seen this as a problem, but seeing something better ruined 60hz for me.
But I noticed that if I rendered the effect with motion blur, it suddenly started to feel much smoother, and the perception of jerkiness was mostly gone. I felt that it completely restored my sense of control of the motion.
It’s surprising considering that motion blur actually adds one half frame of extra latency.
Since trying this, I’m bothered by how jerky fast mouse movement always feels in MacOS. 60 fps leaves these enormous, ugly gaps between the pointer at each frame, and makes it hard to perceive the motion correctly. I can’t unsee these gaps now! I’m convinced that system-wide motion blur just for the pointer would be a simple way to make the whole OS feel much smoother and more responsive.