Application of a novel integrated pointing device apparatus for people with severe disability

Chia Ling Chen*, Hsieh Ching Chen, Ching Yi Wu, Huang Chung Chen, Shih Wei Chou, Simon Fu Tan Tang, Alice May Kuen Wong

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

Background: To improve the computer operation for people with severe disabilities, more flexible pointing devices are required. This study investigates the effectiveness of a new developed Integrated Pointing Device Apparatus (IPDA), that can integrate numerous commercial pointing devices, for people with severe disabilities. Methods: We collected 20 children with quadriplegic cerebral palsy (CP) and 25 people with high cervical spinal cord injuries (SCI). People with disabilities were classified into 2 groups based on pointing device used: group A1 (SCI) or A2 (CP), who used standard mice, and group B1 (SCI) or B2 (CP), who were unable to use standard mice (IPDA combinations). All subjects received clinical severity and three specific mouseoperating efficiency assessments (continuous clicking, targetacquisition, drag-and-drop tasks). The efficiency of the people with disabilities in each mouse-operation task was expressed as a percentage of that for able-bodied subjects (%NL). The level of statistical significant was set at a value of P less than .05. Results: Group B1 or B2 displayed similar operational efficiency in performing the drag-and-drop tasks to group A1 or A2, although they exhibited worse efficiency than group A1 or A2 in performing the continuous-clicking tasks (P<.05). The use of pointing devices was associated with American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale of people with SCI, and Gross Motor Functional Classification System (GMFCS) of children with CP (P<.05). Conclusion: The IPDA could help most people with severe disabilities who could not utilize commercial mice to achieve acceptable operational efficiencies. Pointing devices were assigned based on the underlying severity.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication3rd Kuala Lumpur International Conference on Biomedical Engineering 2006
EditorsFatimah Ibrahim, Noor Azuan Abu Osman, Juliana Usman, Nahrizul Adib Kadri
PublisherSpringer Verlag
Pages618-621
Number of pages4
ISBN (Electronic)9783540680161
DOIs
StatePublished - 2007
Event3rd Kuala Lumpur International Conference on Biomedical Engineering, Biomed 2006 - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Duration: 11 12 200614 12 2006

Publication series

NameIFMBE Proceedings
Volume15
ISSN (Print)1680-0737
ISSN (Electronic)1433-9277

Conference

Conference3rd Kuala Lumpur International Conference on Biomedical Engineering, Biomed 2006
Country/TerritoryMalaysia
CityKuala Lumpur
Period11/12/0614/12/06

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2007.

Keywords

  • Cerebral palsy
  • Computer mouse
  • Efficiencies
  • Pointing devices
  • Spinal cord injuries

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