PointAssist
Helping people use pointing devices with ease
PointAssist is a tool designed to help people who have difficulty using computer pointing devices (e.g., a mouse). To assist in pointing, it detects the type of motion that occurs when users have difficulty pointing at a target, and triggers a precision mode that slows the speed of the mouse cursor in those cases.

PointAssist was originally developed to help young children with using pointing devices such as the mosue. We are currently exploring the application of PointAssist and similar technologies to older adults and people with motor impairments.

Invitation to Participate in Research Study

We are looking for 18-85 year old people with motor impairments who are regular computer users to aid in the design and evaluation of PointAssist as research participants. In the study, we will provide you with software to evaluate PointAssist on your computer and you will have the option of sending us log files from the study software. We will attempt to find optimal PointAssist settings for you. If we find that PointAssist makes it easier for you to use computers, we will give you the option of installing a customized version of PointAssist in your computer. This version will also give you the option to send log files to us. For information on how to participate in this research study, please contact Juan Pablo Hourcade at hourcade@cs.uiowa.edu or (319) 353 2543.

Download PointAssist

Version 0.3 of PointAssist is now available for download for Windows XP and Vista free of charge under the GNU GPL license. If you are interested in the code please contact Juan Pablo Hourcade.

Research Team

PointAssist has been designed, developed and evaluated at the University of Iowa's Department of Computer Science.

Faculty: Juan Pablo Hourcade.

Students: Guarionex Salivia and Chris Bush.

Alumni: Keith Perry and Aditya Sharma.

Publications

Hourcade, J.P., Perry, K.B. and Sharma, A. (2008). PointAssist: Helping Four Year Olds Point with Ease. Proceedings of Interaction Design and Children 2008.

Hourcade, J.P. (2006). Learning from Preschool Children's Pointing Sub-Movements. Proceedings of Interaction Design and Children (IDC 2006). ACM Press: pp. 65-72.