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Improving Pointing in Graphical User Interfaces for People with Motor Impairments Through Ability-Based Design

Improving Pointing in Graphical User Interfaces for People with Motor Impairments Through Ability-Based Design

Jacob O. Wobbrock
Copyright: © 2014 |Pages: 48
ISBN13: 9781466644380|ISBN10: 1466644389|EISBN13: 9781466644397
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-4666-4438-0.ch008
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MLA

Wobbrock, Jacob O. "Improving Pointing in Graphical User Interfaces for People with Motor Impairments Through Ability-Based Design." Assistive Technologies and Computer Access for Motor Disabilities, edited by Georgios Kouroupetroglou, IGI Global, 2014, pp. 206-253. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-4666-4438-0.ch008

APA

Wobbrock, J. O. (2014). Improving Pointing in Graphical User Interfaces for People with Motor Impairments Through Ability-Based Design. In G. Kouroupetroglou (Ed.), Assistive Technologies and Computer Access for Motor Disabilities (pp. 206-253). IGI Global. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-4666-4438-0.ch008

Chicago

Wobbrock, Jacob O. "Improving Pointing in Graphical User Interfaces for People with Motor Impairments Through Ability-Based Design." In Assistive Technologies and Computer Access for Motor Disabilities, edited by Georgios Kouroupetroglou, 206-253. Hershey, PA: IGI Global, 2014. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-4666-4438-0.ch008

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Abstract

Pointing to targets in graphical user interfaces remains a frequent and fundamental necessity in modern computing systems. Yet for millions of people with motor impairments, children, and older users, pointing—whether with a mouse cursor, a stylus, or a finger on a touch screen—remains a major access barrier because of the fine-motor skills required. In a series of projects inspired by and contributing to ability-based design, we have reconsidered the nature and assumptions behind pointing, resulting in changes to how mouse cursors work, the types of targets used, the way interfaces are designed and laid out, and even how input devices are used. The results from these explorations show that people with motor difficulties can acquire targets in graphical user interfaces when interfaces are designed to better match the abilities of their users. Ability-based design, as both a design philosophy and a design approach, provides a route to realizing a future in which people can utilize whatever abilities they have to express themselves not only to machines, but to the world.

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