CORDLESS LIGHT PEN AND INTERFACE AUTHORING SYSTEM

THE GOAL IS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL OR OTHER DISABILITIES WHO HAVE ACCESS TO COMPUTERS AND COMMERCIALLY OFF-THE-SHELF SOFTWARE. THREE DEFICIENCIES IN CURRENTLY AVAILABLE SYSTEMS ARE A) MOST SYSTEMS DEMAND THE USE OF HANDS; B) THE RELATIVE INABILITY OF HEALHT-CARE PROVIDERS IN THE FIELD TO MODIFY THE USER INTERFACE TO ACCOMMODATE THE SPECIFIC INDIVIDUAL, SITUATION AND TASK; C) THE INABILITY OF MANY SYSTEMS TO ACCESS POPULAR SOFTWARE PROGRAMS. HEAD-MOUNTED LIGHT PENS HAVE BEEN USED TO PROVIDE A "HANDS-FREE" INTERFACE. HOWEVER, THE PRESENCE OF AN ELECTRICAL CORD CAUSES SEVERAL PROBLEMS/CONCERNS. THE THREE OBJECTIVES OF THE RESEARCH ARE: (1) TO BUILD AND DEMONSTRATE A CORDLESS LIGHT PEN; (2) TO DESIGN A CORRESPONDING USER INTERFACE AUTHORING SYSTEM THAT WILL ALLOW HEALTH-CARE PROVIDERS MORE FLEXIBILITY IN TAILORING THE INTERFACE TO THE INDIVIDUAL, SITUATION, AND TASK; (3) TO CREATE A "LAYERED INTERFACE" THAT WILL ALLOW USERS TO ACCESS POPULAR OFF-THE-SHELF APPLICATION PROGRAMS.