Monday December 05, 2005

Little fingers...

Little fingers and trackpads.

We have been attempting in the last six months to find opportunities for our daughter - 4 years old in 2 weeks! - to explore the computer.

She has no fear of computers and, like most children her age, just assumes that 'puters are a normal part of life. She has discovered all manner of fun things to do like DragonTales on PBS Kids and space shuttle movies at NASA. Most of which meant that Momma and Daddy had to operate things for her.

Why you ask?

[evil laugh]

Foiled by the mouse. I use a tablet and pen due to RSI. Well, she is only just getting the hang of holding pencils the "correct" way so that wouldn't do. Daddy has a mouse on his 'puter but it fits his hand which is huge compared to our daughter's hand.

So I dug out that little round excuse for a mouse that Apple shipped some years ago. Well it fit her hand better. Our daughter can be quite meticulous in her drawing and painting, so she can position that mouse pretty exactly.

But then she would press to click and the mouse would move under her hand....cause her hand is not large enough to hold it still while clicking. Argh.

Enter the new 12" laptop I let my husband buy. (I'm soooo nice, aren't I?) Daddy was trying to get something done one night on his big computer, so he fired up his laptop and sat her in front of it.

Walla! She can easily position the pointer by moving her finger. Then click via the button under the trackpad and - since the "puter does not move under her - it works. She can't drag anything yet but she can operate most of the games on her own.

Why didn't I (the user interface designer) think of that? :}

( Dec 05 2005, 09:44:06 PM PST ) Permalink Comments [0]