There’s a Mouse Out There for Everyone Image of a mouse and mouse pad.

In March, 2001, the Kornreich Technology Center made a presentation at a major assistive technology conference in Los Angeles, California. In addition to the spoken presentation, the program included slides containing text, graphics, and photographs; live demonstrations of software, and display of numerous hardware devices.In response to requests by several attendees who wished to reinforce the live presentation, this page contains the TEXT of the slides presented.

Carol Fuhrer, OTR/L, ATP

Susan E. Fridie, OTR/L, ATP

Nathaniel H. Kornreich Technology Center

Presented at CSUN Technology and Persons with Disabilities conference
Los Angeles, CA, March 21, 2001

Using a Mouse

The Unavoidable Mouse

  • Graphical user interface (GUI)
    • Navigate among multiple windows
    • Select text
    • Open files
    • Run programs
    • Use menus and toolbars
  • Mouse becomes essential
  • May be difficult for someone with disability

Task Analysis - Step-by-Step

  • Deciding on target
  • Visually locating target
  • Moving cursor to target (point)
  • Deciding on button function required
  • Performing desired button action
    • Right or left click
    • Double click
    • Drag

Task Analysis - Motor Components

  • Hold mouse, reach buttons
  • Move mouse
    • Horizontally, vertically, diagonally
    • Reach all parts of screen
    • Move while holding button (drag)
  • Activate buttons
    • Press and release
    • Press and hold while moving (drag)
    • Timing (double click)
    • Control stability while clicking

Task Analysis - Cognitive, Sensory Components

  • Cognitive
    • Plan, remember, decide, judge
  • Visual/perceptual
    • See clearly
    • See entire screen
    • Distinguish targets from background
    • Follow cursor
  • Eye-hand coordination

Need for a Mouse Adaptation

  • Difficulty with
    • Cognitive functions
    • Visual/perceptual abilities
    • Motor performance

Traditional Mouse Placement

  • Wrist in neutral
  • Move from shoulder
  • Close to body

Adaptations & Alternatives

Modifications to Standard Mouse

  • Hardware
    • Button identifiers
  • Software
    • Cursor modifiers, locators
    • Cursor speed
    • Double-click speed
    • Redefine buttons

Mouse Control Panel

Modifications to Workstation

  • Display
    • Size and spacing of screen elements
  • Mouse
    • Location of mouse
    • Angle of work surface
  • User
    • Arm support
    • Wrist/mouse rest

Display Properties Control Panel

On desktop:

  • right-click
  • click Properties
  • click Appearance tab
  • drop down Item list

General-market Mouse Alternatives

  • Mice with special features
    • Additional buttons
    • Ergonomic shapes
  • Trackballs
  • Trackpads
  • Foot-controlled
  • Pressure pointing mouse

Disability-market Mouse Alternatives

  • Direct selection
    • Hand operated
    • Head controlled
    • Mouth controlled
    • Eye movement
  • Button emulators
  • Indirect selection
    • Mousekeys
    • 5-Switch mice
    • Voice controlled
    • Morse code
    • Scanning mice

Keyboard Shortcuts

  • Keystroke combinations which perform commands
  • Allows users with good keyboard access to avoid or reduce mouse use

"Providing a good keyboard user interface is key to designing an accessible application."

Microsoft's Guidelines for Accessible Software Design

  • Provide keyboard access to all features
  • Fully document keyboard shortcuts
  • Use familiar keystrokes
  • Use underlined access keys
  • Use logical keyboard navigation order
  • Allow user to select text with keyboard
  • Provide customizable shortcuts

Microsoft's accessibility guidelines:
http://www.microsoft.com/enable/products/keyboardassist.aspx%22

The Evaluation Process

Mouse Evaluation

  • Exploration of multiple devices
  • Narrow choices to 2 - 3 devices
  • Final selection
    • Configure each device optimally
    • Re-test and compare
    • Decide
  • Fine tune if necessary

Mouse Exploration

Steps 1-4 on handout

  • Present numerous devices

OR

one device with several setups to:

    • Explore consumer's abilities
    • Determine best body sites and movements
    • Determine ability to move cursor and perform button actions
    • Determine helpful device features
    • Decide which devices to explore further

Mouse Selection

Steps 5-6 on handout

  • Fine tune individual adjustments
  • Compare:
    • Use mouse tutorial
    • Test further
      • Reach all areas of screen
      • Point to targets of various sizes
      • Double click targets of various sizes
      • Drag in various directions
    • Get consumer input
  • Select final device

Recording Form

  • Document everything
  • May use more than one form
    • One for exploration phase, one for selection
    • One per device, with different setup/adjustments
    • One per body position, with different devices
  • Supplement with photos, videos

Recording Form Columns

  • Setup (Column 1a, 1b)
    • Placement of device
    • Body position
    • Body site(s) for cursor movement, button actions
    • Action(s) for cursor movement, button actions
    • Briefly for rejected devices; more detail for promising devices
  • Individual adjustments (Column 2)
    • Driver settings
    • Programming of buttons
    • Markers
    • Positioning aids for device
  • Mouse device (Column 3)
    • Name of device
  • Results (Column 4)

    4 = does easily
    R = does with difficulty (explain in Comments)

    • fatigue
    • inconsistency
    • slowness

    6 = does with much difficulty or cannot do

  • Helpful mouse characteristics (Column 5)
    • Use exploration phase to compile profile of "ideal" mouse for this consumer
  • Comments (Column 5)
    • Reasons to rule out device (exploration)
    • Details of results in column 4
    • Provides rationale for final choice (selection phase)

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