By accident or design, more products remove information superhighway barriers for the disabled

Dot Laux hasn't let time do much to slow her own. But the 80-year-old volunteer computer Dinstructor sees daily the problems that arise when age and computer products collide. "I see so many people

Friday, April 7th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Dot Laux hasn't let time do much to slow her own. But the 80-year-old volunteer computer Dinstructor sees daily the problems that arise when age and computer products collide. "I see so many people who really have problems using a mouse," says Mrs. Laux, who teaches senior computer courses through the Wilshire Baptist Church Computer Center in Dallas. "I have people who just can't use it [the computer]. Some of them have arthritis, and some of them can't do it because they get the tremors that come with age. But there are several of them who just can't control a mouse."

A growing number of aging and physically challenged computer users is just one reason the market has started seeing a wide range of products designed for individuals with mobility problems. While special equipment exists for people with severe disabilities, the needs of those who are healthy but computer-challenged have been all but overlooked until recently.

From visual impairments to arthritic conditions to strain injuries, the special needs of consumers are creating a whole catalog of products that are opening up the World Wide Web to those who previously found it inaccessible. "It's very frustrating for people who want to keep up and learn how to use a computer, but they can't even get the mouse to the right place," Mrs. Laux says. "More and more seniors are getting computers. We have a waiting list for our classes. But we're finding that using a mouse isn't the best way for them to do things." Mrs. Laux now includes a "cheat sheet" of keyboard commands that provides her students alternatives to using the mouse.

However, many other computer users are reaching out for new or improved ways of working around their physical limitations.

Touch pads

Until she discovered a touch pad, Jenny Sato had extreme difficulties using a computer. The 20-year-old college student in Salt Lake City has cerebral palsy and, although she has use of her arms and hands, her range of motion is limited.

She discovered the Cirque Power Cat after using a number of other pointing devices with frustrating results. Now she can use her finger to move the pointer rather than asking a teacher or another student to move the mouse for her.

Cirque has an entire line of touch pads designed for the "mouse-challenged" user.

The Cruise Cat, Power Cat, Smart Cat and Easy Cat, which range from $39 to $109, all use Glide-Point technology, allowing the user to move the computer cursor by running any finger across the pad.

Because it doesn't require pressure, the touch pad has become popular among people with problems ranging from carpal tunnel syndrome and repetitive strain injury to arthritis to cerebral palsy and multiple sclerosis. "Mice, trackballs and keyboards are nightmares for RSI sufferers," says Cirque's Carrie Royce. "Arms, hands, wrists and fingers are forced to flex in small, repetitive movements which progressively aggravate RSI conditions. [This way,] no touch pressure is required. A user hardly has to move problem joints to point."

Early adopters

The touch pads weren't initially developed for users with special needs. Instead, early adopters sought them out after the first one was introduced in 1994, and the laptop market quickly incorporated the technology. But today more than 75 percent of Cirque's customers face mobility issues on the computer.

Cirque hasn't been the only company finding an unexpected market boom among mouse-challenged users.

Wacom Technology's Graphire, a tablet on which users can write or draw, was created for graphic designers but has become an alternative for those who find the mouse too awkward or painful. The computer user can use Graphire's pen to draw or to navigate the Internet.

When Dragon Systems developed its voice-recognition software in 1990, the product was originally targeted at attorneys relying on dictation software in their practices.

Today, the company's line of Dragon NaturallySpeaking products includes DragonDictate,a speech system that allows the user to work on the Windows 95 system using voice commands.

The software is reportedly popular with users suffering from RSI. It also is being used in conjunction with screen-reading software for people with limited vision. Ranging from under $100 to nearly $1,000, the software packages provide features that can be tailored for personal or professional use. For the visually impaired, screen-reading programs such as JAWS for Windows turn text into voice data, using a sound card or speech synthesizer so that the user can hear e-mail messages or information on Web pages. The systems are sophisticated and often expensive, beginning at around $500 but more often running between $1,000 and $1,500.

Baby boomer impact

As computer use becomes a part of daily living, companies are recognizing that the market is rich with opportunities, particularly among aging baby boomers.

Later this year, California-based SAGEport Inc. will roll out a line of products designed to help senior citizens get online easier. The hardware bundle, called SAGEvision, is being tested in convalescent homes and senior activity centers.

The system has been developed specifically for older people, and the bundle will include an oversized monitor, optional touch screen, keyboard with large characters, trackball and printer. The package is expected to sell in the $400 range.

SAGEport also is working on developing an optional voice recognition system.
"Technophobia and the things formerly associated with this [aging baby boomer] demographic is fading," says Brian Deutsch, president and CEO of SAGEport. "We're seeing a lot of older people sit down at the terminal and want to use it. The problem for them is the rigors involved." By replacing the mouse with a trackball, Mr. Deutsch says, SAGEvision has eliminated the biggest single frustration among older users. He says that while he expects the product will appeal to younger physically challenged users, the equipment is set up to take users directly online through senior-oriented sites. "The site itself is geriatrically focused, so that probably would be a deterrent to younger disabled users," Mr. Deutsch says. "But I think once this comes out, we're going to see more and more products like this. I think everyone is waiting to see a success story. "Companies haven't targeted [seniors and the disabled] because they feel they haven't reached full saturation in the [overall] market. Once they realize how big a market is out there, I think we'll see a lot more companies tailoring their products like this."

Paula Felps is a free-lance writer in Dallas.