Position controlled input device for handicapped: Experimental studies with a footmouse

Abstract To test the practical suitability of the footmouse developed at the Institute of Industrial Engineering and Ergonomics, experimental studies of speed and accuracy were carried out with the footmouse to compare this device with a conventional mouse. Testing of the footmouse was performed either barefoot or with shoes on. Both handicapped and able-bodied subjects took part in these experimental laboratory studies. Handicapped subjects with the footmouse produced the same number of mistakes in a given time period as did able-bodied subjects with a conventional, hand-operated mouse. The time required for selecting graphic objects with the aid of the footmouse was 2.3 times higher than the selection time for the handmouse. The accuracy of positioning was about twice as bad as that with a conventional mouse. Handicapped people plead with one voice for this possibility of data input because of there is no special input device for hand/arm handicapped. The lower acceptance by able-bodied people probably stems from the unpractised fine motor ability of their feet and a missing understanding of the necessity to input data with their feet. Relevance to industry Input devices for graphic computer applications which can be used by hand or arm handicapped people are mostly adopted from existing input principles: the roller skate mouse adopts the principle of a mouse, trackballs for handicapped are based on conventional trackballs. The principle of the footmouse, which is presented in this paper, reduces most of the problems in using input devices by feet, for example speed and/or accuracy problems. Therefore the proposed principle seems to be an appropriate alternative to existing foot-controlled input devices. Because no adaptional effort in computer applications has to be made for using the mouse, this product would increase the possibilities for the handicapped to get a job in normal office environments.