Alternative Mice.
We tend to think that all mice are basically the same and that, if we can’t use a normal mouse, we can’t use a computer.
As well as being able to control your computer from the keyboard alone, there are also many alternatives to the normal mouse that many people will find easier to use.
Ergonomic Mice
The Size-Adjustable Whale Mouse and a Collection of Contour Mice.
Some people experience difficulty or discomfort when gripping or clicking a normal mouse. Ergonomic mice allow your hand to form a more natural shape. As a consequence they are usually much easier to hold and more comfortable to use.
The mice illustrated above are from a range of ergonomic mice. The Whale Mouse can adjust to fit a range of hand sizes, and the Contour Mice are available in 5 sizes for the right hand and 3 for the left.
It is often worth trying a few different mice to find the size and shape to suit you.
Trackballs.
The Kensington Expert Mouse Pro and CST KidTrac
Some people have difficulty gripping or moving a standard mouse. Others find that when they click a button the pointer moves slightly and they have clicked the wrong thing. These people may find a trackball much easier to use.
A trackball is basically an upside-down mouse. Rather than moving the mouse on the table top the trackball remains in one place, with the ball on the top being moved using fingers, thumbs or palms. Larger trackballs are often suitable for use with the feet. Because the trackball doesn’t move it takes up much less space.
When you have the pointer where you want it you do not need to grip the
ball while you click a button.
Go to top
Touchpads.
Cirque Cruise Cat touch pad.
Some people have very limited hand movement but still have accurate control. They may find a touchpad the best mouse alternative for them. Touchpads are often found on portable computers but are also available as separate devices.
Touchpads can be placed on your desk or held in your hand. The mouse is moved by sliding your finger across the pad. Clicking can be done with buttons or by "tapping" lightly on the surface.
Joysticks.
Traxsys Roller Plus Joysticks.
For some people a joystick is the easiest and most effective way of operating a mouse. They work in a similar manner to the joystick control on a wheelchair. The mouse pointer moves fastest when the joystick is pushed fully in any direction.
The joystick illustrated has a built in guard, a drag lock button and a button which sends a double click.
Touch Screens.
Touch Window and Software.
With a touchscreen selections and movements are made by pointing at the screen surface. Touchscreens are either built into monitors or come as a separate "Touch Window" that are placed in front of a standard monitor to give the same function (as illustrated in the picture above).
A lightpen is a similar idea, requiring you to hold a pen and point it at the screen.
Head and Eye Controlled Mice
smartNAV3 Head Mouse System.
For some people whose only, or most reliable, movement is with their head or eyes a head or eye operated mouse may be the best solution.
Head operated mice use either a reflective dot (usually placed on glasses) or rely on the tracking of head movement. Both offer accurate mouse operation.
Eye operated mice track the movement of the pupil. Whilst quite accurate these systems can be very costly (many thousands of pounds).
Both systems can be used in conjunction with on-screen keyboards. A switch is normally used to do the equivalent of a mouse click.
Related AbilityNet factsheets and skillsheets (Adobe PDF Files):
Download a copy of the accessible version of Acrobat Reader. Visit the Online conversion tools for Adobe PDF documents page which allows you to convert PDF documents into HTML or text formats.
For more information visit the AbilityNet website.