Need Help With PC input devices for ALS (Lou Gherigs Disease) victim.

Pelham NH | Today | Brainhose

[Brainhose]

Hello all.
My 75 year old father has ALS and has only very limited
use of his left hand. I'm looking for any ideas for input devices for his computer.
I bought him a wireless mouse that has help quite a bit, but he would like to use
the pushbutton feature of the center wheel. It makes it easier for him to scroll
using that feature. I was hoping that some of the wise Freepers here would know
of some interesting input devices for the handicapped.
Many thanks

[Delta 21]

This Trackball is the best input device there is. it is great for fine detailed work and can be adjusted/customized for course movements as well. It has a scroll ring around the ball that makes scrolling very easy and four buttons that are completly programable. No more carple tunnel or hand cramps. It even comes with a hand rest that makes it even more comfortable, USB hook-up or even a wireless one. Depending on how much fine motor control he has in his hands Kensington has a 10 button programable trackball that would render your keyboard all but useless.

I hate mice!!

[Delta 21]

These guys have a bunch of stuff.

[Brainhose]

Thanks. It is an interesting site, I just learned my parents have been invitedd to a seminar on accesability technology for the "Handi-capable" (sorry, had to make PC joke). I'm going to attend. It should be interesting, I hope.

[Brainhose]

Many thanks. I may get one for him to try. I've suggested a trackball but he doesn't seem to think it would work for him. But you never know until you try.

[HAL9000]

Mac OS X has Universal Access built-in to the operating system.

[Brainhose]

Thanks for the input but I hardly think that a MAC would be the solution.
There would still be a need for a compatible input device.

[Brainhose]

Thanks for the input but I hardly think that a MAC would be the solution.
There would still be a need for a compatible input device.

[HAL9000]

Just suggesting that Apple has some interesting OS technologies for users with disabilities. Apple is making some good investments in "universal access".

Apple does have some input devices that may be of interest for scrolling, like the Mighty Mouse with a built-in scroll ball, and the recent laptop computers that scroll window content simply by dragging two fingers across the trackpad - without having to aim the mouse pointer on the scrollbar controls.