ARIS is an interface that enables users to visually relocate applications and redirect input among myriad devices in an interactive workspace. While we previously claimed that ARIS is more effective than other interfaces for performing these tasks, this work seeks to empirically validate our claim. We compared the use of ARIS to an interaction design of a text-based and virtual paths interface for relocating applications and redirecting input in an interactive workspace. Results show that (i) users can relocate applications and redirect input faster with ARIS than a text-based interface, (ii) users commit fewer errors with ARIS than a text-based interface, (iii) users experience less workload and are more satisfied with ARIS than a text-based interface, and (iv) ARIS was comparable to the use of a virtual paths interface. ARIS is more effective than an interaction design that requires a user to mentally map and select textual identifiers, while supporting functionality beyond that of a virtual paths interface
