Alternative User Interfaces Daniel Andrew Hadley MrDan78@hotmail.com http://www.hadley.web.com
CIS-447-101 Prof. Murray Turoff 6 December 1999
Copying Authorized for Educational Use
ABSTRACT: Currently input devices and user interfaces are fairly limited to the mouse, keyboard, and possibly a joystick for games. Disabled members of society have not been able to easily interface with a computer with current technologies. Studies have been emerging in alternate input devices, especially to assist those with disabilities. Although many of these devices are designed for disabled users there are many that may become the future of computer user interfaces. There are many methods being developed for interfacing with a computer and this paper intends to explore some of the current technologies and future possibilities. INTRODUCTION A large population of the world is disabled and unable to use the current technologies provided to interface with a computer. "Out of every one hundred persons, ten are disabled. In the United States more than twenty million people have a disability that affects their daily lives." (Murphy) Many people with disabilities have a fully functioning brain and have the mental capacity to be successful in this world, but often their physical disability has hindered their success. In a society that physical strength no longer determines your place in society, the disabled are faced with yet another obstacle to overcome. Computers assist the disabled in succeeding, but currently the input devices and interfaces are not designed to assist the physically challenged. Computer input devices and user interfaces are very well designed to assist a user in producing fast output and customization, but this is only for a | |
|
