Development of a computer input system for people with disabilities using a commercial mouse and switches.

PURPOSE: To help people with physical disabilities to effectively utilize commercial pointing devices to operate computers. This study develops a novel method to realize transferring single-direction physical movement into complete mouse functions. METHOD: The proposed system adopts a redesigned sof...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Disability & Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology Vol. 4; no. 6; pp. 414 - 422
Main Author: Shih C
Format: equations & formulas pictorial research tables/charts Journal Article
Published: Taylor & Francis Ltd Nov2009
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
Description
Summary:PURPOSE: To help people with physical disabilities to effectively utilize commercial pointing devices to operate computers. This study develops a novel method to realize transferring single-direction physical movement into complete mouse functions. METHOD: The proposed system adopts a redesigned software mouse driver that adopts special switches to change the functionality of the mouse. RESULTS: Three people with disabilities were recruited to test the feasibility of this system. Experimental results demonstrate that this method effectively enables people with disabilities to operate computers. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, the use of software technology makes this system low-cost, flexible, easy to maintain, and compatible with all standard interfaces of commercial input devices. The proposed system allows people with disabilities to use their remaining functional abilities to operate a computer.