Scanning: An Access Aid

WiggleWorks has a built-in scanning feature that is useful to students whose physical disabilities limit their ability to manipulate the computer. When scanning is on, a large cursor on the screen moves to every button on the screen, one after another. When the cursor reaches the desired button, students click a single mouse button or single ability switch to activate that feature without having had to move the mouse.

d

Move the cursor to the top of the screen to open the Settings Menu. Choose Scanning to bring up the Scanning Options dialog box.

d

Choose a scanning speed. This determines how fast the cursor will move around the screen, in other words, how long it will pause at each button before moving on.

d

Select a number of scanning cycles. This determines the number of complete "loops" the scanning cursor will make before stopping if no selection is made.

d

Turn Scanning on, and choose OK or press enter.

d

The scanning button now appears on the screen. Clicking the mouse button or single ability switch starts the scanning cursor moving across the screen. When the scanning cursor points to the button you wish to activate, click the button or switch again. If additional choices become available the scanning cursor will now move among those choices; otherwise, it will activate whatever feature has been selected.

To pause scanning, press the space bar. This is necessary to gain control of the mouse, which in turn is necessary to turn scanning off. The spacebar also enables a student with disabilities to collaborate with a peer without requiring both to use scanning.