December 2006 Assistive Technology Day,,, GentleMouse,,, and individuals interested in technology for persons with disabilities.

http://www.section508.gov/docs/AssistiveTechnologyDay/December2006AssistiveTechnologyDay.doc

 

U.S. General Services Administration

Center for Information Technology Accommodation (CITA)

Assistive Technology Showcase

 

December 2006 Assistive Technology Day

 

 

The December 14, 2006 Assistive Technology Day event will provide participants an opportunity to learn about GentleMouse from gentleComputing.  If you have a Repetitive Strain Injury, a disability where you are unable to use a regular mouse for mouse clicks, are providing ergonomic assistance to employees for product selection, or would like to learn more about this new technology come to GSA and learn how you can use a mouse in a whole new way where you can work safely and be productive in the workplace.

Full details on gentleMouse are below.

This event is free and no registration is required.  The demonstration will be continuous throughout the day.  This event is not an all day demonstration but was designed for you to come in and spend what ever time is needed to learn about this technology. If you come in during the demonstration you can stay till the next presentation begins then leave when the information is repeated.

SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS, etc: There will be sign language interpreters during the demonstration from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.  Assistive Listening Devices will be available from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

 

CAPTIONING SERVICES:  There will be captioning from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. 

 

AUDIO CONFERENCING: In order to meet the needs of people not in the Washington, DC area who would like to listen to the presentation, audio conferencing will be available from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. (Eastern Time).  Please adjust your schedule to accommodate these eastern time presentations.  Please contact Marilyn Estep at marilyn.estep@gsa.gov for information to participate in this audio conference.

 

Please distribute this announcement to personnel within your agency or company so that everyone can benefit from this event.

 

DATE: Thursday, December 14, 2006

 

TIME:  9 a.m. to 3 p.m.  (Open event come any time within these hours)

 

LOCATION:   U.S. General Services Administration (Central Office)

                          1800 F. Street, NW

                          Room 1216

                          Washington, DC  20405

 

Who can attend:  Government employees and non-government employees and individuals interested in technology for persons with disabilities.

 

Full details about GentleMouse 2.0

 

GentleMouse is a revolutionary, patent-pending assistive technology solution that eliminates the need to click the mouse.  GentleMouse is a software application that translates cursor movements into mouse actions, providing an easy and gentle way to perform mouse actions without manually pressing buttons or scrolling.

 

GentleMouse is ideal for users with musculoskeletal injuries and disabilities who are either unable to click the mouse, or find clicking painful. It is also a tool to help prevent injury.  Pain caused by repetitive clicking of the mouse is a widespread complaint among PC users and has been associated with many musculoskeletal and repetitive strain injuries, especially Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. By eliminating or reducing clicking, GentleMouse may help prevent clicking-related injuries.  In addition, by removing the need to click, users can loosen their grip on the mouse, which may help reduce the overall strain associated with mouse use.

 

GentleMouse is compatible with most pointing devices such as ergonomic or standard computer mice, trackballs, and touch pads as well as head-tracking devices. With GentleMouse, if you can move your cursor, you can click!

 

How it works: whenever you pause the cursor, GentleMouse remembers where you paused and briefly displays a small, transparent window called a Trigger Window close to the cursor. To click, simply move and pause the cursor over the Trigger Window and GentleMouse performs the click for you. There are secondary Trigger Windows corresponding to right-click, double-click, and middle-click that become visible when you move through the first Trigger Window.

 

The software is highly customizable. You can choose the number of Trigger Windows to use and  then customize each window with a mouse or keyboard action.  Many common commands such as cut, copy, paste, enter, etc., can be performed just by moving over the corresponding customized Trigger Window.   The window size,  transparency, background image and more can also be changed.   In addition, an adjustable Hover Zone allows users to define sensitivity to cursor movement, so people with shaking hands or tremors can easily use GentleMouse.

 

GentleMouse is also the first auto-click software solution that is not based on dwell clicking. What’s the difference?   Dwell clicking-based software programs perform a click whenever the cursor is paused for a pre-defined time span. This can cause unintended clicks.  GentleMouse gives you much more control over where and when to click: if you don’t want to click where you paused, just ignore the Trigger Windows and they will disappear until you pause again.     

 

Gentle Computing is pleased to offer any AT Showcase participant a 25% discount off the standard retail price of $39.95. A digital promotional coupon will be provided and the software can be purchased at www.gentlemouse.com. We will also accept cash or check at the event.

 

If you are unable to attend the showcase in person and will be participating via teleconference, please visit www.gentlemouse.com and watch the video tutorial to view the software in action while listening to the teleconference. You may also download a free 14-day trial of GentleMouse.

 

Security Information:  All government employees with government ID's can proceed through security checking station, non-government employees will have to sign in and have a CITA employee escort you to room 1216, the guard will call CITA for assistance.

 

Transportation:  Take the Metro, Orange or Blue line to Farragut West, exit the Metro on the 18th street side and walk south on 18th street about 4 blocks.  GSA is on the corner of 18th and F Street.  Main entrance is at the middle of the building on F Street.

 

Parking:  There are two parking garages on 18th street, one on the right and one on the left just as you pass F Street, between F and G streets.

 

For further information please contact Marilyn Estep, 202-501-3322 (voice) 202-253-1223 (Mobil) 202-501-2010 (TDD), or email: marilyn.estep@gsa.gov.

 

DISCLAIMER:  GSA, CITA does not endorse the products mentioned above or any other products displayed or demonstrated in their Assistive Technology Showcase. All references to products are solely for the purpose of educating the workforce on assistive technology products for people with disabilities and musculoskeletal disorders.

 

NOTICE REGARDING CANCELATION OF EVENT DUE TO THE WEATHER:

If the Federal Government is closed due to weather conditions this event is canceled.  If the Federal Government is open with unscheduled leave, delayed arrival, etc. please call Marilyn Estep on 202-253-1223, mobile phone after 7 a.m. for information regarding whether this event will still be provided at GSA.