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Alternative Mice
This page introduces the wide range of alternative mice available.
Alternative mice options
Many people think that all mice are basically the same and if cannot use a 'normal' mouse then you cannot use a computer.Fortunatly this is not the case, as well as being able to control your computer from the keyboard, there are also many alternatives to the normal mouse that many people will find easier to use.
Some people experience difficulty or discomfort when gripping or clicking a normal mouse. Ergonomic mice allow your hand to form a more natural shape. As a result they are usually much easier to hold and more comfortable to use.
The mice shown above are from a range of ergonomic mice. The Whale Mouse can adjust to fit a range of hand sizes, and the Contour Mice are available in 5 sizes for the right-hand and 3 for the left.
It is often worth trying a few different mice to find the size and shape to suit you.
Some people have difficulty gripping or moving a standard mouse. Others find that when they click a button the pointer moves slightly and they have clicked the wrong thing. These people may find a trackball much easier to use.
A trackball is basically an upside-down mouse. Rather than moving the mouse on the table top the trackball remains in one place, with the ball on the top being moved using fingers, thumbs or palms. Larger trackballs are often suitable for use with the feet. Because the trackball does not move it takes up much less space.
When you have the pointer where you want it you do not need to grip the ball while you click a button.
Some people have very limited hand movement but still have accurate control. They may find a touchpad the best mouse alternative for them. Touchpads are often found on portable computers but are also available as separate devices.
Touchpads can be placed on your desk or held in your hand. The mouse is moved by sliding your finger across the pad. Clicking can be done with buttons or by "tapping" lightly on the surface.
For some people a joystick is the easiest and most effective way of operating a mouse. They work in a similar manner to the joystick control on a wheelchair. The mouse pointer moves fastest when the joystick is pushed fully in any direction.
The joystick shown above has a built in guard, a drag lock button and a button which sends a double click.
With a touchscreen selections and movements are made by pointing at the screen surface. Touchscreens are either built into monitors or come as a separate "Touch Window" that are placed in front of a standard monitor to give the same function (as shown in the picture above).
A lightpen is a similar idea, requiring you to hold a pen and point it at the screen.
For some people whose only, or most reliable, movement is with their head or eyes a head or eye operated mouse may be the best solution.
Head operated mice use either a reflective dot (usually placed on glasses) or rely on the tracking of head movement. Both offer accurate mouse operation.
Eye operated mice track the movement of the pupil. Whilst quite accurate these systems can be very costly (many thousands of pounds).
Both systems can be used in conjunction with on-screen keyboards. A switch is normally used to do the equivalent of a mouse click.
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