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My 73 year old mother is a surprisingly savvy computer user. She uses her computer for research almost daily. As she has gotten older, she has developed a tremor in both hands. This makes using the mouse difficult when clicking on small items on the screen. She currently uses Windows XP. Is there software or hardware that can dampen her tremor so she can continue to use enjoy her computer?
dacracot
Posted 2009-09-23T17:11:40.620
Reputation: 323
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Have you tried SteadyMouse? It looks like it was designed for your needs. Hasn't been updated (from the looks of it) for a while- but if it does what you need who cares (runs on XP).
And then there's this crazy expensive solution, but I'd try the free software first.
Tim Lytle
Posted 2009-09-23T17:11:40.620
Reputation: 959
I'll try the SteadyMouse. – dacracot – 2009-09-23T17:33:43.493
http://www.montrosesecam.com/index.html I believe is the main source for the above device. – DHayes – 2009-09-23T17:34:34.240
@DHayes Looks like it, still a bit pricey. – Tim Lytle – 2009-09-23T17:38:25.027
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Have you considered the accessibility options to Control the mouse pointer with the keyboard (Mouse Keys).
That should allow her to move around the screen with the mouse and then switch to the keyboard for more precise movement.
Here are the accessibility options in Windows XP.
Robert Cartaino
Posted 2009-09-23T17:11:40.620
Reputation: 6 444
This seems to be available in WinXP but looks very different. – dacracot – 2009-09-23T17:45:28.850
I added the XP-specific links. – Robert Cartaino – 2009-09-23T18:20:33.680
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If nothing else, reducing the mouse movement speed could make more accurate clicking easier
Edit: On a side note, my mother also has some slight hand tremors, although not that bad, but has an easier time using a Trackball instead of a mouse. Results may vary.
Will Eddins
Posted 2009-09-23T17:11:40.620
Reputation: 3 354
We tried this. The slowness made it easier to click, but annoying for everything else. She put it back to the original setting. – dacracot – 2009-09-23T17:23:06.650
4Love that 'she put it back'. – Tim Lytle – 2009-09-23T17:26:51.400
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I'm sure there are third party options to do this, but I'm not aware of them. If I could propose an alternative though, you may look at increasing the size of the icons. This way normal users without a tremor won't be adversely affected.
MDMarra
Posted 2009-09-23T17:11:40.620
Reputation: 19 580
This would only work in Windows itself. She uses lots of applications that would not benefit. – dacracot – 2009-09-23T17:20:29.073
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Maybe using keyboard shortcuts rather than point and click would help her use the computer better without making her feel useless.
Andrew Grimm
Posted 2009-09-23T17:11:40.620
Reputation: 2 230
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Another suggestion: A trackball. A hand tremor won't move them.
Loren Pechtel
Posted 2009-09-23T17:11:40.620
Reputation: 2 234
Any update on what worked for you? – Tim Lytle – 2009-11-13T03:45:26.430
Mom is being stubborn. She is insisting that there is no need for help. Give her some time and maybe she'll soften. <sigh> – dacracot – 2009-11-13T15:38:48.577