Assisting people with disabilities improves their collaborative pointing efficiency with a Multiple Cursor Dynamic Pointing Assistive Program

This study evaluated whether four persons (two groups) with multiple disabilities and minimal motor behavior would be able to improve their collaborative pointing performance using finger poke ability with a mouse wheel through a Multiple Cursor Dynamic Pointing Assistive Program (MCDPAP) with a newly developed mouse driver (i.e., a new mouse driver that replaces the standard mouse driver, changes a mouse wheel into a thumb/finger poke detector, and intercepts/simulates mouse action). The study was performed according to an ABAB design, in which A represented the baseline and B represented intervention phases. Data showed that both groups of participants improved their collaborative pointing ability through the use of MCDPAP during the intervention phase. Practical and developmental implications of the findings are discussed.