- From: Leonard R. Kasday <kasday@acm.org>
- Date: Thu, 11 Nov 1999 14:24:44 -0500
- To: Bruce Bailey <bbailey@clark.net>, "Neff, Robert" <Robert.Neff@usmint.treas.gov>
- Cc: "'w3c-wai-ig@w3.org'" <w3c-wai-ig@w3.org>, "'Paskoski, Joseph'" <jpaskoski@gpo.gov>
Getting back to what the person was looking at, a touch pad, here's my own personal experience: mice get my hand and wrist sore, mainly from pressing down on the mouse button. I'm using a touch pad which completely takes care of the problem--at least when used in combination with as many keyboard shortcuts as possible, an angled keyboard, a good chair, proper keyboard and monitor height, good lighting conditions, and a pair of weak (1.25D) reading glasses to bring the monitor in focus without contorting my back or neck. However, the positioning of the touch pad is important. If it's positioned under the cursor keys or number pad it gets my shoulder uncomfortable. The best position for me at least is a built in touchpad in directly below the space bar. It's also important how I use the touch pad. I use the right tip of the middle finger of my right hand so my palm is facing toward me and a bit down... in other words, at a natural angle. I also touch as lightly as I can. It's also set up so a light tap is equivalent to a click, and a light tap followed immediately by a light touch and drag on the page is equivalent to a mouse drag. I only use the buttons for button 2. The particular keyboard I use is an Adesso Truform keyboard pictured at http://www.adessoinc.com/pck308t.htm (don't confuse their truform with their nuform). However, I am not endorsing this product over other similar keyboards, nor am I endorsing this way to address the problem in general. This is just my own personal experience. There are no doubt other good solutions. For example, I find the new iMac mouse comfortable to use: provided I use it a particular way. This means not placing my hand on top of it, as if it were an ordinary mouse, but rather resting the side of my hand on the table, curling my fingers around to hold the mouse between my thumb near the back and my other fingers near the front, and squeezing to activate the mouse button. But that's just me. Anyone experiencing significant discomfort should consult with a physician. I am not a physician. I'd be glad to give more details but I think we should take that level off list. ------- Leonard R. Kasday, Ph.D. Institute on Disabilities/UAP, and Department of Electrical Engineering Temple University Ritter Hall Annex, Room 423, Philadelphia, PA 19122 kasday@acm.org (215) 204-2247 (voice) (800) 750-7428 (TTY)
Received on Thursday, 11 November 1999 14:21:33 UTC