Assisting people with developmental disabilities to improve computer pointing efficiency through Multiple Mice and Automatic Pointing Assistive Programs

Abstract

This study combines multi-mice technology (people with disabilities can use standard mice, instead of specialized alternative computer input devices, to achieve complete mouse operation) with an assistive pointing function (i.e. cursor-capturing, which enables the user to move the cursor to the target center automatically), to assess whether two people with developmental disabilities would be able to improve their pointing performance through a Multiple Mice Automatic Pointing Assistive Program (MMAPAP), where driver technology is adopted to enable people with disabilities to export the remaining ability of each limb to complete the mouse operation. At the beginning of the study, both participants received their baseline sessions. Then the first participant started his intervention session. The second participant had her intervention when the first participant's performance was consolidated. In the end, both participants were exposed to the maintenance phase, in which their pointing performance improved significantly. Data showed that both participants improved their pointing efficiency with the use of MMAPAP and remained highly successful through the maintenance phase. Implications of the findings are discussed.