Pointsmart Mouse Software Helps Children and Adults with Disabilities 'Point
    and Click' 
From: UB News Services - 12/08/2004

A soon-to-be-released software application developed by Infogrip and the
University at Buffalo Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on
Technology Transfer (T2RERC) promises to make using the computer mouse less
aggravating for children and adults with limited fine motor skills.
PointSmart enables users to tweak the sensitivity of mouse movements in order
to stabilize erratic motions. Users can employ PointSmart in a joystick mode
that starts the mouse in one direction and allows it to continue by itself
until the user decides to choose an object or change direction, and the
software also facilitates adjustable functionality for mouse clicks and
buttons. T2RERC project manager Wendy Strobel says PointSmart will allow
disabled students to access computers that their non-handicapped classmates
use regularly, enable employees with reduced fine motor control to use a
mouse without worrying about productivity-affecting factors such as misplaced
data or missed targets, and let aged, infirm users continue to use PCs. In
addition, PointSmart can benefit visually impaired users thanks to its
ability to display very big and easy-to-read mouse pointers on the screen.
T2RERC collaborates with companies to research, assess, transfer, and market
assistive devices for disabled people. PointSmart is slated to become
commercially available in March 2005; other assistive technologies T2RERC has
developed, enhanced, or tested include Automatic Sync Technologies'
CaptionSync product that automatically furnishes captions for any electronic
media file and its transcript, and an automatic braking system for manual
wheelchairs. The UB center is supported by a nearly $5 million National
Institute on Disability Information Research grant spread out over five years. 

http://www.buffalo.edu/news/fast-execute.cgi/article-page.html?article=70320009

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Assistive Software

A new software application promises to ease the frustration of using a mouse -
and provide greater computer access - for people who suffer from cerebral palsy,
traumatic brain injury, or other disabilities that make it very difficult to
point and click.

PointSmart, developed by Infogrip (Ventura, CA), with assistance from the
University at Buffalo Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Technology
Transfer (T2RERC), helps stabilize erratic mouse movements by allowing users
to adjust the sensitivity of those movements beyond standard speed and
acceleration adjustments found on most personal computers.

PointSmart features a joystick mode that starts the mouse in one direction
and allows it to continue without continuous control until the user chooses
to change direction or select an object. Users also can change the functionality
of mouse clicks and buttons -- switching the left click and right click
functions, for example.

For more information, visit: http://link.abpi.net/l.php?20041223A10