Factors Affecting Computer Mouse Use for Young Children: Implications for AAC

Abstract

More than 12% of preschoolers receiving special education services have complex communication needs, including increasing numbers of children who do not have significant motor impairments (e.g., children with autism spectrum disorders, Down syndrome, etc.). In order to meet their diverse communication needs (e.g., face-to-face, written, Internet, telecommunication), these children may use mainstream technologies accessed via the mouse, yet little is known about factors that affect the mouse performance of young children. This study used a mixed factorial design to investigate the effects of age, target size, and angle of approach on accuracy and time required for accurate target selection with a mouse for 20 3-year-old and 20 4-year-old children. The 4-year-olds were generally more accurate and faster than the 3-year-olds. Target size and angle mediated differences in performance within age groups. The 3-year-olds were more accurate and faster in selecting the medium and large targets relative to the small target, were faster in selecting the large relative to the medium target, and were faster in selecting targets along the vertical relative to the diagonal angle. The 4-year-olds were faster in selecting the medium and large targets relative to the small target. Implications for improving access to AAC include the preliminary suggestion of age-related threshold target sizes that support sufficient accuracy, the possibility of efficiency benefits when target size is increased up to an age-related threshold, and identification of the potential utility of the vertical angle as a context for training navigational input device use.

Keywords::

• Augmentative communication
• Children
• Computer access
• Motor control

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Dr Kathryn Drager, Dr Carol Miller, and Tim Benner for their input. This work was completed in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy for F. Aileen Costigan and was supported in part by the Canadian Occupational Therapy Foundation.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

Notes

1. Inaccurate selections due to excessive velocity were infrequent (M = <1 inaccurate selection due to excessive velocity for both 3- and 4-year olds per session, accounting for approximately 10% and 8% of total inaccurate selections for each age group respectively).

2. The Mathworks, 3 Apple Hill Drive, Natick, MA, 01760-2098.