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Assisting people with developmental disabilities to improve pointing efficiency with an Automatic Pointing Assistive
Ching-Hsiang Shih1, Nai-Yun Hsu, Ching-Tien Shih
1Department of Special Education, National Dong Hwa University, No. 123, Hua-Hsi Rd, Hualien 970, Taiwan, ROC. schee@mail.ndhu.edu.tw
Research in Developmental Disabilities
|May 19, 2009
Summary
This study shows that an Automatic Pointing Assistive Program (APAP) and a new mouse driver significantly improved pointing performance in children with developmental disabilities. These gains were maintained over time, highlighting the program's effectiveness.
Area of Science:
- Assistive Technology Research
- Developmental Disabilities Intervention
- Human-Computer Interaction
Background:
- Children with developmental disabilities often face challenges with computer interaction.
- Standard input devices may not adequately support the needs of all users.
- Developing adaptive tools is crucial for enhancing digital accessibility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the efficacy of an Automatic Pointing Assistive Program (APAP) combined with a novel mouse driver.
- To determine if children with developmental disabilities can improve their pointing performance using APAP.
- To evaluate the long-term effectiveness and maintenance of improved performance.
Main Methods:
- Two children with developmental disabilities participated in the study.
- Baseline performance was established before intervention.
- Intervention involved the use of APAP and a custom mouse driver, with staggered implementation for each participant.
- A maintenance phase was included to assess sustained performance.
Main Results:
- Both participants demonstrated significant improvements in pointing efficiency with the APAP and new mouse driver.
- The observed improvements in pointing performance were sustained during the maintenance phase.
- The novel mouse driver successfully intercepted and potentially modified mouse click actions.
Conclusions:
- The Automatic Pointing Assistive Program (APAP) and the new mouse driver are effective tools for enhancing pointing performance in children with developmental disabilities.
- The findings suggest that assistive technology can significantly improve computer interaction for this population.
- Further research can explore broader applications and customization of such assistive programs.
