Abstract
Three infrared head-controlled mouse emulators (HeadMouse Extreme™, Tracker Pro™ and Tracker Inside™) were paired with an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device (Pathfinder™) and tested for speed and accuracy in three different light conditions. Eleven participants tested the systems, entering a list of common statements used by AAC users. The Language Activity Monitor™ (LAM) recorded all selections made. The data were analyzed for error rate and selection rate. The results revealed that (a) in a single light condition, the different mouse emulators performed significantly differently from each other, (b) in general, a single mouse emulator performed consistently across all light conditions, and (c) the external mouse emulators performed better than the internal emulator, for speed and accuracy, in all light conditions.
Notes
1The HeadMouse Extreme wireless computer access device is a registered trademark of Origin Instruments, Grand Prairie, Texas. See http://www.orin.com/access/headmouse/
2The Tracker Pro is a computer input device and a registered trademark of Madentec, located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. See http://www.madentec.com/products/tracker-pro.php
3The Tracker Inside is an internal IR Head Mouse of the Pathfinder, Prentke Romich Company.
4The Pathfinder is a registered trademark of the Prentke Romich Company, Wooster, Ohio. See http://www.prentrom.com/about
5The Language Activity Monitor is a recording component of the Pathfinder, Prentke Romich Company.
6The International Light IL1800 is a light measuring device for recording different wavelengths of light. http://photonics.bfioptilas.fr/objects/279_25_1798154129/internationallight.pdf