An Accessible On Ramp

1. An Accessible On Ramp To The Information Highway

2. Lesson 1B Computer Basics: The Mouse

3. Introduction to the Mouse

4. Wired and Wireless Mice • A wired mouse has a cord that attaches to the computer. (It looks like a tail.) • A wireless mouse has no cord (and no tail). It connects to the computer using a transmitter and needs batteries. • Keyboards can also be wired or wireless.

5. Mouse Functions • Most of the mouse is just a rest for your hand. • There are two parts that act like buttons that you can click – the right click and the left click. • In between, most mice have a little wheel called a scroll wheel. Mice work by moving them, clicking them, and spinning the scroll wheel.

6. Moving the Mouse • The mouse must be kept on a clean, smooth surface. • If your mouse has a “roller ball” – look on the bottom for part of a ball that is inside the mouse -- then it will work better on a mouse pad. • If it doesn’t have a roller ball, it probably works better without a mouse pad.

7. Mouse Video • This video will show you exactly how a mouse works. • This time, you will be clicking on each part of the lesson to move forward. • The main page has pictures for each part, and you click on them to see the lesson.

8. Start by clicking on the top left picture of a mouse, the one that says Overview underneath. When you finish each section, click next; or use the left menu to choose a section. www.skillfulsenior.com/skills/mouse/index.php

9. The Mouse and the Cursor • The little pointer on the screen is called a cursor or a pointer. • If your mouse is properly connected, moving the mouse will move the cursor on the screen. • The pointer changes to other shapes, depending on what it will let you do.

10. The Pointer (Cursor) The pointer changes to other shapes, depending on what it will let you do. Enter text (write) Wait while the computer works Click on a link

11. Clicking the Mouse • You tell the computer to do something by clicking the mouse when it is pointing to a picture, an icon (symbol), or a command. • To open your browser, put the pointer on top of the browser icon and click with the left button.

12. Practice Using Your Mouse For practice with the mouse, go to www.pbclibrary.org/mousing/ by left clicking on the underlined text. • Mousing Around is a basic lesson, with practice, about using the mouse. • Mousercizewill give you more practice. (Left click on the underlined words to go to the program. You must be on the Internet to do these tutorials.) tech.tln.lib.mi.us/tutor/ by left clicking on the underlined text.

13. More practice For practice with the mouse and the keyboard, and to learn a little more about both, try this tutorial: New User Tutorial from the Michigan Library Network.

14. Alternatives to Mouse and Keyboard • There are other ways to tell your computer what to do besides the usual mouse and keyboard. • They help people with certain disabilities, and also people without disabilities who just prefer them.

15. Examples of Alternatives to Mouse and Keyboard Trackball Sip and Puff Mouse/Keyboard Joy sticks Chin Mouse Switch adapters

16. More adapted devices

17. More about Mice • You will find more information, tutorials, and mouse games in the Supplementary Materials. • It is important to be good at using a mouse if you want to be an expert at using the Internet. • If using a mouse is hard because of your disability, look at the information about other input devices in the Supplementary Materials.