[oats-sig] User with limited motor control

It would be good if the grids were of a common standard (with SAW, The
Grid), or could import them. In fact, this 'd be essential...  In fact, this
work could be a driver for standardising the storage of this information
(e.g. in XML) which is shockingly not even vaguely standard at the mo,
meaning there is no way to port resources.  David has done some stuff on
suggested storage standards (in the Switch Access to Technology Resource
[1]).

In fact, if it could do this, then users could use the same resources inside
Firefox/Thunderbird to type etc, then use SAW/Grid etc for outside... Thus
heading towards a browser based AAC/Access system... (sorry, getting
excited!).

Accessibility Arrangements - for pointer-only-users, they'd use an on-screen
keyboard to type probably, they might also be able to speak (maybe a
seamless integration with FireVox?), er, generally with pointer-no-click
users they'd use a dwell clicker software (this could be built in?) such as
[2] - the nicer ones of these display a timer around the cursor for the
dwell time.  I suppose someone could also be using an eye-gaze system etc...

For people who have not got fine control they generally just get away with
big icons, larger dwell areas etc.  There is an anti-tremor mouse, and there
might be the equivalent software (can't remember, maybe not) but otherwise
tremor is not coped with that well...  

Is this answering the question? I'm not sure...

The majority of the users I see are at the lower end of the input bandwidth
spectrum, so are generally not 2d pointer users, though I see a fair few
(e.g. people with MND)...

Cheers

Simon

[1] http://tinyurl.com/f8qxk
[2] http://www.sensorysoftware.com/software/dwellclick/index.html

Clinical Scientist
ACT
0121 627 1627 ex 53245 

-----Original Message-----
From: oats-sig-bounces at lists.becta.org.uk
[mailto:oats-sig-bounces at lists.becta.org.uk] On Behalf Of Steve Lee
Sent: 19 October 2006 07:39
To: OATs Project Special Interest Group
Subject: [oats-sig] User with limited motor control

I want to ensure that the Mozilla accessibility work is usable by as many
users with limited motor control as possible. The current plan is to provide
grids and in application selection (using actual controls) accessible by
switch or pointer.

What sort of accessibility arrangements are used by users with some ability
to use a pointer for onscreen 2D random access (e.g. headmouse, eyetracker).
What would be better than the current possibilities?

Do you use OSK/Grids or enlarge the screen with fine pointer resolution? I
imagine either would be useful depending on capabilities. Are there other
useful techniques adaptions?

What if tremor is a problem?

-- Steve Lee
www.fullmeasure.co.uk