Software for Computer Input Devices

Principal Investigator: Heidi Koester, PhD
Co-Investigators: Edmund LoPresti, PhD; Richard Simpson, PhD, ATP
 

2007-2009
 

Computer technology has much to offer individuals who have disabilities, including enhanced educational and vocational opportunities, independent means of written and/or spoken communication, and a form of recreation and exploration. To fulfill this potential, it is critical that the computer system be closely matched to the user’s needs and abilities. An important part of this matching process is configuring the user’s computer input devices to appropriately leverage user strengths and accommodate limitations.
 

The behavior of most computer input devices, such as keyboards and mice, is adjustable. Because each person’s disability is unique, tuning these devices to a user’s strengths and limitations is critical for success in many cases. Ideally, configuration is performed in consultation with a clinician who has expertise in computer access for people with disabilities. However, a trained clinician may not be available, and even when one is, proper tuning of a device to the needs of a particular user can be a difficult and time- consuming task. The challenge is magnified by the fact that user needs and abilities may change over time, whether in the short term due to factors such as fatigue or in the long term due to factors such as changes in the individual’s underlying impairment. For these reasons, input devices are often not appropriately configured to meet users' needs, with consequent negative effects on user productivity and comfort.
 

The goal of this project is to improve educational, vocational, and clinical interventions related to computer use for people with disabilities through the development of a software agent for the configuration of computer input devices. The software will provide an easy-to-use tool to measure current user performance with an input device, then recommend and implement an appropriate configuration for that device. The complete system is known as the Input Device Agent, or IDA. Three main groups of input devices will be supported: keyboards, mice and other pointing devices, and switches. In Phase I, we developed and evaluated several decision algorithms for configuring specific aspects of these input devices, demonstrating that they yielded useful recommendations for computer users with physical disabilities. In Phase II, the IDA system will be expanded, enhanced, and evaluated, resulting in at least a beta-level
version for the Windows operating system.