Technology Report - A Better Computer Mouse Cursor for the Disabled
This is the VOA Special English Technology Report.
这里是美国之音慢速英语科技报道。
Using a computer mouse or trackball can be a little tricky. You choose the object you want and move it to where you want it, only to have it end up in a different position. This happens to all of us sometimes, and we think little of it. But for people who have a difficult time controlling their movements, this little navigational issue can be a really big problem.
使用鼠标或轨迹球可能会稍微有点棘手。你选择一个对象，想要将它移动到某个地方，但最终却移动到了另一个不同的地方。我们所有人都可能遇到过这个问题，但我们很少去思考。但对一些难以控制自己动作的人来说，这种小小的导航问题却是一个大麻烦。
Now, researchers at the University of Washington have developed new cursors that make activating objects easier for people with motor disabilities. Jacob Wobbrock is an assistant professor at the University of Washington. He leads the AIM Research Group that developed the cursors.
现在，华盛顿大学的研究人员开发出一种新型（鼠标）光标，让存在运动障碍的人更容易激活对象。雅各布·沃布罗克（Jacob Wobbrock）是华盛顿大学的助理教授。他领导的AIM研究小组开发了这种新型光标。
Professor Wobbrock says mouse cursor operations are complex processes that assume things about computer users.
沃布罗克教授表示，鼠标光标的操作是一个非常复杂的过程，它假定了用户的状况。
JACOB WOBBROCK: "For many people who have poor dexterity, the inability to control their fingers well, maybe pain in their wrists or hand, maybe arthritis - those assumptions of the average user, they don't hold."
沃布罗克：“对于一些不够灵巧，不能很好地控制自己的手指，可能手腕或手掌痛，或者关节炎的人来说，那些对普通用户的假定在他们身上并不成立。”
The AIM Research Group has developed two cursors. One is called the Pointing Magnifier. Professor Wobbrock says it uses a large circular cursor instead of the traditional arrow pointer.
AIM研究小组已经开发了两种光标。其中一种叫做指针放大镜(Pointing Magnifier)。沃布罗克教授表示，这种指针使用一个比较大的圆形光标来代替传统的箭头状指针。
JACOB WOBBROCK: "And they can make that circle as big as they like. So, if their motor impairments are fairly severe, they can make that circle large.
沃布罗克：“用户可以根据喜好调整圆形光标大小。所以，如果用户运动障碍非常严重，他们可以把圆形光标调大一些。”
When the circle is positioned over the target, everything in the circle appears larger, almost filling the whole screen. This makes it easier for the user to click on the object.
当这个圆形光标定位到目标对象上时，圆形光标内的所有内容会放大，几乎充满整个屏幕。这让用户更加容易点击对象。
JACOB WOBBROCK: "At this point the user sees the regular point cursor now, the little arrow, inside that exploded magnified view. And with that they can move and click on the target they want or they can begin to drag the target they want.
沃布罗克：“现在用户可以通过放大模式看到普通箭头指针。通过这种模式，他们可以移动指针点击或拖动目标。”
The AIM Research Group's Pointing Magnifier software can be downloaded free from the University of Washington website. AIM is short for Accessible, Interactive and Mobile. Professor Wobbrock says the group's main goal is to make information and computer systems more available and easier to use. And he says AIM's work is not just for people with disabilities.
AIM研究小组的指针放大镜软件可以从华盛顿大学网站上免费下载。AIM是Accessible, Interactive and Mobile(可获得性，交互性和移动性)的缩写。沃布罗克教授表示，该小组的主要目标是使信息和电脑系统更便于使用。他表示，AIM的工作不仅仅是为了造福残疾人。
JACOB WOBBROCK: "Some of our projects have looked at what we call situational impairments, which are challenges to accessibility that are caused more by the situation or context that the computer user is in instead of maybe as we usually think of accessibility as having to do with someone's own physical or cognitive state."
沃布罗克：“我们的一些项目正着眼于我们所说的情景障碍。情景障碍是指更多由用户所处状况或环境所造成的不便，而不是我们通常所认为的由用户本身的身体或认知状况造成的不便。”
Professor Wobbrock says an example of this might be using a small mobile device while walking.
沃布罗克教授表示，其中一个（情景障碍的）例子就是步行时使用小型移动设备。 |