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Introduction
Although computers were in use prior to the invention of the mouse there can be no doubt that the current generation of computing is designed for mouse users. Interactive functions such as drag-and-drop and double-clicking are important features central to the usability of Microsoft Windows and other operating systems.Using a mouse is a demanding task, both physically and cognitively. The standard mouse requires very fine motor control to be able to position the pointer accurately on a target and hold it steady while pressed. It requires even greater control to perform a successful drag-and-drop or double-click. Many people with more severe cognitive difficulties can find it difficult to understand the link between the movement of the mouse with the resulting movement of the pointer on screen. Fortunately for those who struggle there are a wide range of methods and alternative hardware we can use to get around these difficulties.
Article Contents
- Introduction
- Choosing the right solution
- Positioning
- The Standard Mouse
- Accessibility Options
- Motion & Targeting
- Mouse Clicks
- Pointer Visibility
- Supplementary Switch use
- Rollerballs & Joysticks
- Touchscreens
- Headpointers
- Switch Access
- Using the keyboard without a mouse
- Moving the pointer with the keyboard
Choosing the right solution
Finding the correct access solution can be difficult as you need to get a good balance of software and hardware. This process normally consists of a series of stages starting with a"standard" computer set-up and gradually adapting it until a suitable access method is found.During these stages you will need to give yourself, or the person youre working with, a chance to get to grips with any new provision. Sometimes a user with severe cognitive difficulties who seems physically unable to use a particular device may only be lacking motivation, and a change of activity can often make an apparently unusable device suddenly accessible. Motivating software suitable for assessment is available from Inclusive Technology and SEMERC
One of the most serious errors, that are nevertheless fairly common, is provision based upon a disabled person's "label" rather than their individual needs. Two people with the same disability may share some of the same characteristics and difficulties yet are able to access technology in completely different ways. Further information can be found at Inclusive Technology NOF Resource and AbilityNet.
For many cases you should consider getting a professional needs assessment from an independent assessor or a well-known body like AbilityNet or The Ace Centre.
Positioning
It is vital that any device you choose should be correctly positioned so that it is physically accessible and comfortable for the user. Even the perfect device, placed into an inappropriate position, can be extremely difficult to use.
Sometimes pointing devices, and especially switches, need to be positioned very carefully using universal mounting arms, maxess trays or other mounting equipment. Further information about specialist positioning equipment is available from:
The Standard Mouse
Being able to use the standard mouse does put users at an advantage because of their availability and low cost. For example although public libraries, schools and other institutions should have a range of specialist access equipment this tends to be restricted to only one workstation every other computer having a standard mouse. Although a standard mouse may initially seem to be inaccessible, changes to accessibility options or adding switches (see below) can sometimes reverse this. Fun variations of standard mice have recently become popular and can prove motivating for some users. An example includes the brightly coloured Ladybird mouse (pictured) available from Research Machines. There are some serious potential ergonomic dangers with most mice and rollerballs that can cause or contribute towards musculoskeletal damage.Some alternative mice, many originally designed with ergonomics in mind, have proven useful for people with physical difficulties. One example is the 3M vertical mouse which many users find easier to grip and control. Find out about ergonomic issues and solutions at:
Accessibility Options
Microsoft Windows XP comes with many options to help people who struggle to use a mouse. These options can be enabled and adjusted for users of the standard mouse or any alternative pointing devices such as a rollerball, joystick or headpointer.Tutorials and guides for the following accessibility options can be found at these websites:
- Mice at Better Living Through Technology
- CALL Centre
- AbilityNet My Computer My Way
- Microsoft Enable
- Apple Accessibility (for Apple computers)
Motion & Targeting
Windows allows you to adjust the speed that the pointer moves on the screen when you move the mouse. People with restricted movement can use very small motions to move the pointer a long distance on the screen. Alternatively for those who struggle with targeting accuracy the pointer movement can be slowed so that targets are easier to hit. Targets are items on the screen that you want to click, such as buttons and links on web pages. Targets can also be made a lot easier to click if they are made larger. This can be accomplished by reducing your screen resolution or fine-tuning the Windows display options.There are also some third-party accessibility utilities available to help people who struggle with motion and targeting particularly for those with a tremor. The following software packages smooth out tremors and can help with pointer accuracy. They also have features to restrict the effects of accidental or continuous clicking.
Single Clicking
It takes a great amount of skill to hold a mouse steady while clicking the mouse button. Although many users could benefit from a rollerball and/or supplementary switch it is usually worth experimenting with accessibility options, such as by making targets larger or trying a third-party accessibility software tool. Dwell delay software allows you to use a mouse, or other pointing device, without the need to ever press a mouse button. It works by automatically pressing a "virtual" mouse button whenever you hover the pointer above a target such as a button or a link. Software is available from:
Double Clicking
Many users struggle with double-clicking. Windows lets you adjust the speed required to perform a double click. This can be increased to help avoid inadvertent double clicks or decreased to make double clicks more accessible. Lots of people also struggle to know when to use a double-click and when to use a single-click. Fortunately Windows has an option that disables all double-clicking across the entire computer so that only single-clicking is ever required.Some specialist joysticks have a button dedicated to double-clicking.
Click and dragging
Clicking and dragging is an important feature of mouse access as it allows you to highlight text and drag and drop elements around the screen. It is also one of the most cognitively and physically tasks that one can undertake with the mouse as the button has to be held down during the entire process. Windows ClickLock is an accessibility feature built into Windows XP that makes it easier for some users to access clicking and dragging. The feature works by locking the mouse button down, allowing you to concentrate on moving the pointer. A fairly lengthy firm click initiates the clicklock and another releases it. Many specialist joysticks and rollerballs have a special button to assist with clicking and dragging.
Pointer Visibility
The default Windows pointer is rather small and many people struggle to find it or track its movement across the screen. Windows XP ships with some alternative pointers that you could try out and you can also download free hi-visibility cursors from:
If these cursors still prove too small you might need to install a specialist piece of software to make them larger Biggy is a popular choice.
Microsoft Windows also has an accessibility feature that helps you find the pointer on the screen by pressing the CTRL key. The feature needs to be enabled before you can use it. Tracking the movement of the pointer can also be made easier by enabling pointer trails. More information on these topics is available at:
Supplementary Switch use
Many people find that the most difficult part of using a mouse is holding it steady while pressing the button. While there are various solutions that can help, such as using a rollerball or fine-tuning Windows Accessibility Options, you could consider adding an external switch to act as the left or right mouse button, or both. Switches can also be used alongside rollerballs, joysticks and headpointers. They come in a variety of shapes and have different ways in which they are activated. One should always follow an assessment involving the trial of different switches in different positions to determine the optimum solution. Supplementary Switch access should not to be confused with Primary Switch access (see below).
For a list of commonly-used switches see:
- Inclusive Technology - Switches
- Better Living Through Technology - Switches
- Q.E.D.
- Better Living Through Technology -Switch Interfaces
Rollerballs
Rollerballs provide a popular alternative to the standard mouse. A rollerball is rather like an upside-down mouse and does not need to be moved around the desk in order to be used.Rollerballs range from tiny devices which require great motor skill to much larger, robust devices which can be operated by someone with less physical control. Many rollerballs are robust enough to be operated by foot. Rollerballs tend to help those who struggle to hold the mouse steady while clicking. This is because the button is separate from the ball so one can position the pointer, remove their hand from the ball, and then press the button. Some people like to use their rollerballs with two hands, although the correct positioning of this can interfere with the position of a keyboard. It is sometimes a good idea for right-handed rollerball users to swap the left and right mouse buttons. This allows their hand to move to press the button without having to pass over the ball. This reduces the risk of hitting the ball accidentally and is also often far more comfortable. The swap is possible to accomplish in Windows Accessibility Options or you can use a free utility call SwapMouseButtons which allows you to swap the buttons using a simple key press see: Button Swap.
Further information on types of rollerballs is available at:
- AbilityNet Trackballs
- Better Living Through Technology Track Balls
- Inclusive Technology Alternate Mice
Joysticks
Specialist joysticks that act to replace mice should not be confused with games joysticks. They are robust devices intended for people who have poor gross motor control and struggle to use rollerballs or standard mice. Like rollerballs, Joysticks are available in miniature versions for people with good fine motor control or as larger more robust devices. Joysticks often include accessibility features built into the device. These can include special buttons to assist click-and-dragging and double-clicking. Some joysticks also have a 'single axis mode' that forces a user to move the pointer on one axis at a time - i.e. only horizontal and then only vertical. This is a particularly useful targeting feature and can help people who would otherwise struggle to use joysticks. Games joysticks and joypads can not normally be used to control the mouse pointer. However it is possible to install software that makes games controllers useable in this fashion. More information, including a free download, is available from: Joy2Mouse Further information on types of joysticks is available at:
- AbilityNet Joysticks
- Better Living Through Technology Joysticks
- Inclusive Technology Alternative mice
Touchscreens
With a mouse or similar device a user needs to understand the relationship between the mouse on the desk and the motion of the pointer on the screen. Touchscreens can be a great solution for people with more severe cognitive difficulties as the cause and the effect of computer control are the same place. They work by allowing a user to press a button or open a link simple by pressing onto the screen with their finger. The disadvantage with touchscreens is the need for accuracy when selecting small targets such as web links and little buttons. Also there can be ergonomic and positioning difficulties. Touchscreens are similar to normal screens and are available in both CRT (TV style) and TFT (modern flat style) types. They are also available as add-on frames for existing screens although this solution can be problematic unless the frame is very securely fixed.
Headpointers
A popular choice for those with severe paralysis, a headpointer requires good head positioning control in order to move the pointer on the screen. Modern versions usually work by placing a small camera on the computer screen which then wirelessly monitors head movements. A mouse button press can be provided via dwell delay, an external switch or via a specific head movement such as a short, sharp nod. These specialist devices range hugely in price from £20 for a standard webcam with free software up to £1,600 for a laser-based solution. There is lots of information available on the different headpointers available from ACE Centre.
Eye Tracking
Eye tracking devices use cutting-edge technology to monitor the movement of the eye and are ideal for those with very restricted movement or who are prone to neck damage should they use a headpointer. Eye tracking is still relatively new and remains in development. Client experience and feedback is therefore limited but there are some very promising systems being demonstrated. Current EyeGaze solutions include:
If you think that eye tracking may be a solution suitable for you or someone you know then you might want to consider finding out more from an independent authority on specialist access such as AbilityNet.
Switch Access
Primary switch access (as opposed to a supplementary switch above) is used by people with the more severe physical and/or cognitive difficulties. It involves using the same switches plugged into the computer in a slightly different way. Although switches can be used to move the pointer around the screen in a similar manner to MouseKeys (see below) they are usually used in conjunction with advanced on-screen keyboards.
Back to Article IndexUsing the keyboard without a mouse
In many ways the mouse is overrated. Too often people reach for the mouse to accomplish a task that they could complete by pressing just one key on the keyboard. Learning how to use the keyboard to navigate your computer can make any task a lot quicker and easier. Most Windows programs such as word processors and web browsers can be accessed entirely using the keyboard. Although the relevant key presses and shortcuts need to be learned and remember most of these keys follow simple rules and can be repeated time and time again for different purposes in different programs.
Commodio Pointer Keyboard is a little piece of software that can make a big difference to people who only use the keyboard to access their computer. It makes many non-keyboard accessible programs and websites usable and can make accessible ones much easier to use. A trial copy can be downloaded from www.download.com
Moving the pointer with the keyboard
The IntelliKeys is a very accessible membrane keyboard that has special features for controlling the pointer in a similar manner to MouseKeys. Microsoft Windows is shipped with an accessibility feature called MouseKeys. This feature allows you to use the numeric keypad, on any keyboard, to move the mouse pointer on the screen. This is useful as not all features in all programs are accessible using keyboard shortcuts. MouseKeys can then step in as a practical, albeit rather slow, access system.