Mouse/ Joystick for Parkinsons sufferer

Scubachick

Hi Folks,
For some years now I have been trying to sorce a tool to help my mum surf the net. She has parkinsons and is finding it increasingly difficult to hold a mouse steady and manouver around sites. Even double clicking difficult.

I am sure there are adapted keyboards and mice out there. I reckon a joystick type mouse would help. However, anytime I ask in computer shops they haven't a clue. Anybody know of a supplier? What do I ask for?

Thanks in advance.

Scubachick

gibo_ie

hey scubachick,
Just something that may help you in the interm until you get a joystick etc..
Use windows accessibility features. Slow down/speed up the movment speeds of the mouse -- use enter as double click or turn on single click (and dont need double click at all). There are a few quite good features here also which may or may not be relevant like a magnifier which automatically zooms in on an area close to your mouse location in a box in the corner etc...

Good luck

Sleipnir

Hi,

i don't know a whole lot about Parkinson's disease but maybe this might help?

Scubachick

Thanks folks,
I have already done all the "accessability" tweaking I can do for her. That NavSmart looked good, but I gather that the cursor is controled by head movement. She has the shakes everywhere - head included, so I don't think that will work. Perhaps touch screen technology? Is this readily available?

Sleipnir

Well, I don't use the SmartNav but I do use the TrackIR (which is for gaming)

You can tweak the settings/sensitivity on it so that could help to nullify the head shakes.
For example, you can set a 'dead-zone' in the centre so the cursor will only move if you move your head outside this dead zone.
So if the head shaking was only a centimeter or two in any direction, you could adjust it so that the SmartNav doesn't notice those movements. Only head movements exaggerated beyond the dead zone would count.

Well, you know best anyway.

You can also get foot pedals which replace the click and double-click.

sceptre

Would a trackball be any better?

Scubachick

Thanks for the ideas Sleipnir and Sceptre. I'm not too technical (can u guess!) so its great to be able to go into a computer shop and ask for things by name.

What's the tracker ball Sceptre? Is it kinda like a mouse upside down with the roler ball exposed?

heggie

touchscreen can be adapted to any tft screen with a film that goes on top of the screen. There is an Irish company called Evo that do touch screens, I just know the name , sorry i dont have anymore details.