TetraMouse
Manual
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Click on these links to view topics or just scroll down to read the entire manual.
Setting Up the TetraMouse
The Articulated Arm
Adjustment Summary
Connecting the TetraMouse
USB
PS/2
TetraMouse LeftLock Utility
Setting the Mouse
Properties in Windows
"ClickLock" Option
Microsoft IntelliPoint
Mouse Drivers
Mouse Pointer Speed
"Snap To" Option
TetraMouse Joystick Functions
The "Position" Joystick
The "Clicker" Joystick
Speed Selection and Adjustment
A Few Tips for Using the Click-N-Type Virtual
Keyboard
The Help Files
Resizing the Keyboard
Upper Case Letters
Macros
Program Options
Word Prediction
Cleaning
Setting Up the TetraMouse
The Articulated Arm and Super Clamp Mounting System
The Articulated Arm has two arm sections with universal
couplings at each joint (3 places). This allows the TetraMouse to be mounted
firmly in any position. The arm sections can be adjusted to place the TetraMouse
anywhere from about 4 inches to 24 inches from the Super Clamp base.
IMPORTANT! It is extremely important
to set up the TetraMouse so that the user is in a comfortable position and is
looking straight ahead at the computer screen. The TetraMouse should be positioned
so the user does not have to move to reach the joysticks. Failure to position
the TetraMouse properly will result in the user having to reach to operate the
mouse. This may result in muscle strain after a period of time.
The base of the Super Clamp has a removeable triangular-shaped insert that, when removed, allows the clamp to attach to cylindrical shapes such as wheelchair frame or bed frame tubing.
The T-shaped knob that protrudes just above the large
clamping handle on the Super Clamp base should remain fully tightened. Its purpose
is only to secure the Articulated Arm to the Super Clamp base. Loosening this
knob does not allow any positioning that cannot be obtained by using the three
arm joint clamping knobs.
Adjustment Summary
All the mounting adjustments are set to allow the user to use the TetraMouse
while maintaining a comfortable posture. Ideally, the tips of the joysticks
should touch the lips (or the area that the user will use to operate the TetraMouse
with) when the user is idle (not actively moving the joysticks) and in a comfortable
position, and viewing the screen straight ahead. If the user complains of abnormal
neck pain or stiffness during or just after use, it is likely that he or she
is straining to reach the joysticks and/or having to hold an unnatural position
in order to view the screen and operate the TetraMouse at the same time, and
further adjustments should be made. A user may experience some stiffness or
minor neck pain in the process of getting used to using any mouth-operated device.
Usually such pain or stiffness goes away after the first or second use as long
as the user, mouse and screen are properly positioned. Stiffness may also result
from the user being tense due to using an unfamiliar piece of equipment. Becoming
used to the equipment and being relaxed and comfortable should hopefully eliminate
any pain and stiffness, if it is encountered, within a short amount of time.
Back to Table of Contents
Connecting the TetraMouse
The TetraMouse can be connected to your computer using the built-in USB connector
or the PS/2 Adapter. It is recommended that a standard mouse also be connected
to your computer for use by a helper or care-giver. If the TetraMouse is installed
as a PS/2 device the other mouse should be installed as a USB device. If the
TetraMouse is installed as a USB device the other mouse may be installed as
a PS/2 device or another USB device.
USB Port Installation
To install the TetraMouse using a USB port first turn on the
computer. Insert the TetraMouse's USB connector into any available USB port.
Your computer may inform you that a new USB device has been found and installed.
PS/2 Mouse Port Installation
CAUTION: Turn off the computer when installing or removing
any PS/2 mouse.
To install the TetraMouse using the PS/2 adapter, first turn the computer off.
Then plug the USB connector into the PS/2 adapter. Then plug the PS/2 adapter
into the computer's PS/2 mouse port. Turn the computer back on. If you previously
had a mouse connected to the PS/2 port on your computer the TetraMouse will
be ready to use. If this is a first-time set up, you may be prompted to insert
your Windows installation CD in order to install the standard mouse drivers.
Back to Table of Contents
TetraMouse LeftLock Mouse Utility
(Makes drag and drop easy)
The TetraMouse LeftLock utility is a small program that provides the user of
the TetraMouse (or any other 3-button or clickable scroll wheel mouse) with
a means of performing essential drag and drop functions and drag and select
functions. This utility was created (by TetraMouse) to fill the gap in Microsoft's
IntelliPoint versions 5.0 and 5.2 (for Windows XP) that do not provide an instant,
button programmable ClickLock feature and eliminates the need to hold the clicker
joystick left for a short period of time in order to initiate the bothersome
"click and wait a second" ClickLock feature (see more about the Microsoft "ClickLock"
feature further below on this page).
LeftLock immediately emulates holding the left button
down when you push the clicker joystick down (or click the middle button or
wheel on other mice). When running, an icon is placed in the system tray near
the clock on the Windows Taskbar. Right-clicking on this icon pulls up a menu
that can be used to suspend or exit LeftLock. When suspended, the normal default
(or progammed) function returns to the clicker joystick "down" push (or middle
button or wheel on other mice). For dragging and dropping, window repositioning
and text selection and manipulation, LeftLock is highly recommended. Note that
by using the suspend option when also running IntelliPoint software allows you
to switch between the LeftLock function and any other function that you can
program for the middle or wheel button in the IntelliPoint Mouse Properties
(in Control Panel).
To install and use TetraMouse LeftLock click on the download link below. In
the download window click on "Save". In the next window choose where to save
the installer. This can be on your Windows desktop or the folder of your choice.
After the download is complete, navigate to the desktop or folder where you
saved the installer and double-click on it to install. When installation is
complete a shortcut to a "Readme" file is placed on your desktop along with
a shortcut to LeftLock itself. Please read the readme file before running LeftLock
-- it contains important information about startup options and usage.
Download the TetraMouse LeftLock installer executable here: http://tetramouse.com/download/TMleftlock.msi
(Filesize: 361KB)
TetraMouse LeftLock can also be installed from the latest version of the TetraMouse
CD.
Back to Table of Contents
Summary of how to set the ClickLock function: Click on Start, Settings, Control Panel, then double-click on Mouse (Mouse Properties), click on Buttons tab (or Actions tab), click on the "Turn on ClickLock" box to put a check mark in it, click on Settings (to the right of the checked box) to adjust the length of time the left clicker stick (or left mouse button) should be held before the click is locked.
Microsoft IntelliPoint Mouse Drivers
Several Microsoft mouse drivers are included on the TetraMouse CD-ROM. The ClickLock option (accessible in Mouse Properties from the Control Panel) is standard in Windows XP mouse drivers. To acheive the same function in other versions of Windows you may choose to download the Microsoft IntelliPoint mouse software for your version of Windows (links listed below) or use the Point-N-Click program included on the TetraMouse CD which allows the user to perform many advanced mouse operations. It is recommended that you read the help files for the Point-N-Click program if you decide to use it. The IntelliPoint software is preferred to Point-N-Click for achieving the ClickLock function due to its simplicity of set up and use.
Note: The only versions recommened for use with the TetraMouse
are IntelliPoint 4.01 and 4.12.
Installing versions 5.0 or 5.2 retains the standard "left-click and wait a sceond"
ClickLock feature but does not give you an option to assign "instant" ClickLock
to any of the mouse buttons. For some reason Microsoft omitted or forgot to
provide this feature in the newer releases. The older releases (4.01 and 4.12)
do not work in Windows XP.
Links for downloading IntelliPoint Drivers for ClickLock functionality in Windows Versions Other than XP:
IntelliPoint version 4.12
For the TetraMouse this version is recommended for Windows 2000, Windows 2000
Service Pack 2, Windows 2000 Service Pack 3, Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition,
Windows ME and Windows NT. Note that installing IntelliPoint 4.01 or 4.12 in
Windows XP does not seem to change the mouse driver (these version are not intended
for use with XP) so there is no point in installing this version in Windows
XP.
You may download version 4.12 at: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&familyid=4348502a-61be-4072-abe2-e3fc3aa0eee6
IntelliPoint version 4.01
This version is designed to run on Windows 95 and is recommended for that operating
system. It also works on Windows 98, Windows ME and Windows NT.
You may download version 4.01 at: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=775c1f67-d80f-4b3b-8b00-d4496c706d4f&displaylang=en
Direct (no instructions) Microsoft IntelliPoint downloads and downloads
in other languages:
IntelliPoint 4.01
http://download.microsoft.com/download/intellimouseex/Install/4.01/W9XNT4Me/EN-US/IP4_0EngALLMsi.exe
IntelliPoint 4.12
http://download.microsoft.com/download/4/8/c/48ca781f-a1be-4cdc-8d97-dfc33535d4da/IP4_12EngALLMsi.exe
The following versions of IntelliPoint are recommended for use with the TetraMouse if you want to program the mouse buttons with other functions, however, the programmable button "instant" ClickLock functions are not provided:
IntelliPoint 5.0
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=85D871BB-EEBC-4E34-B87D-41E1A493965B&displaylang=en
IntelliPoint 5.2
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=D3B2C863-2F8A-4339-9542-18F90B69128D&displaylang=en
IntelliPoint for other languages
If you need to download the IntelliPoint software in another language go to
the Microsoft Mouse Download Page at:
http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/mouseandkeyboard/Download.mspx
On that page, under "Select your product" pick "Wheel Mouse" then select your
Windows version under "Select your operating system", then select the language
under "Select your operating system language", then click on "Go".
Mouse Pointer Speed
This setting in Windows will affect all four speed settings on the TetraMouse.
If another user or care-giver will be using a regular mouse on the same computer
as the TetraMouse this setting should be first adjusted for the other user or
care-giver. The settings on the TetraMouse can then be set to the desired speeds
for the TetraMouse user. Any changes to the Windows speed adjustment will affect
all four speeds on the TetraMouse. See the section below "Joystick Functions"
under the the heading "Speed Selection and Adjustments" for how to select
and set the TetraMouse speed adjustments.
To change the pointer speed setting in Windows, open the Control Panel ( click
Start, Settings, Control Panel) then double-click on the "Mouse" icon to open
the Mouse Properties dialog box. Click the Pointer Options tab. Set the pointer
speed by dragging the slider left or right to decrease or increase the speed
setting. Click the Apply button to test the speed before closing the window.
"Snap To" Option
In the same window as the Motion speed adjustment described above (in Windows
XP) you also have the option of turning the "Snap To" option on or off by checking
or un-checking the box. This option, if selected, will automatically place the
mouse cursor on the default button in a dialog box. This option can save you
some time, but may not be desired depending on user preferences.
Back to Table of Contents
TetraMouse Joystick Functions
The "Position" Joystick
The "position" joystick is used to move the mouse cursor around the screen in
any of eight directions; left, right, up, down, left/up, right/up, left/down and
right/down.
The "Clicker" Joystick
Clicking: The "clicker" joystick is used to perform left and right mouse
clicks and double-clicks by pushing the joystick left or right. To double-click,
just push the stick twice.
Scroll: Pushing the clicker joystick down is equivalent to clicking a scroll
wheel on a wheel mouse or the middle button on a three-button mouse. When, for
example, you are viewing a web page (or other window) that has scroll bars, either
on one side vertically or along the top or bottom horizontally, you can push the
clicker stick down to activate a scroll cursor. With this cursor enabled, moving
the position joystick will scroll the window up or down and/or left and right.
A left-click turns the scroll function off and restores the normal mouse cursor.
The scroll function may not work in some older programs that display scrollbars
and scrolling in these programs must be done using the scrollbars in the usual
way. The scroll cursor will appear in programs that support the scroll function
when the clicker joystick is moved downward.
Note: When using the optional Click-N-Type virtual keyboard, pushing the
clicker joystick down when the cursor is hovering over a key assigned a "Macro",
the macro will be performed. This is extremely handy because it eliminates the
need to click the "Macro" key to activate and de-activate the macro function.
Be sure to read the help files for the Click-N-Type virtual keyboard to learn
about more great features of this program.
Speed Select: Pushing the clicker stick up advances the speed selection to the next of the four speed settings. See the following section for details.
Pushing
the clicker joystick up causes the pointer speed selector to advance to the
next of the four speed settings. The "lightbar" on the top of the
box indicates which setting is currently active with blue, green, yellow and
red colors. Adjustments are made by turning the corresponding adjustment with
a small (1/8" wide blade) screwdriver. Turning the adjustments clockwise
increases the speed.
The selector steps through the four settings sequentially from setting 1 to
setting 2 to setting 3 to setting 4 then back to setting 1 and the sequence
then repeats.
The lightbar colors indicate which speed setting is currently selected as follows:
Setting 1 - Blue (super slow)
Setting 2 - Green
Setting 3 - Yellow
Setting 4 - Red
It is recommended that the settings be adjusted so that setting 1 is the slowest and setting 4 is the fastest. Notice that to change from setting 3 to setting 2 (or to change from a higher setting number to the next lower setting) it takes three "up" clicks on the joystick. This is because the selector only counts in the ascending direction.
Setting 1 is a special setting because its speed range is much slower than the other three settings. This setting is used to do precision cursor positioning which is especially useful in programs that require accuracy such as CAD, drafting, drawing and painting programs. The speed of setting 1 can be set from approximately three "units" per second at the slowest setting to six "units" per second. The term "unit" used here means the smallest movement that the mouse cursor can make on the screen. For precision work it is recommended that setting 1 be set at its slowest speed. This allows you to move the cursor by one unit by using a brief push on the position joystick.
Settings 2, 3 and 4 are all adjustable over faster ranges of speeds. Settings
3 and 4 can be set to slightly faster speeds than setting 2.
In a typical system with a screen resolution of 1024 by 768 pixels the settings
might be chosen as follows:
Setting 1: As slow as possible -- about 3 units of mouse resolution per second
or about 58 seconds to move across the screen horizontally.
Setting 2: Pointer moves across screen horizontally in about 12 seconds.
Setting 3: Pointer moves across screen horizontally in about 4 seconds.
Setting 4: Pointer moves across screen horizontally in about 1.5 seconds.
Note that settings 2 through 4 do not necessarily have to be in order by speed,
for example, setting 3 could be slower than setting 2 and 4. How you set the
speeds is a matter of personal preference except for setting 1 which is always
the slowest and designed to be super slow.
Back to Table of Contents
The Help Files
It is highly recommended that you read the Click-N-Type help files to
learn about all the various features. Listed below are a few of the features
that are quite helpful, but a good understanding of everything that is available
in the program will greatly enhance your use of the virtual keyboard.
Resizing the Keyboard
Increasing the size of the keyboard makes it much easier to position the mouse
cursor over the desired keys and is highly recommended. Once resized, the keyboard
will retain that size even after closing and opening the program until you choose
to resize it again. The keyboard may be resized at any time by placing the cursor
on the border of the keyboard window and performing a left-click and hold to
drag and resize the window. If you are using Windows XP you can select the "ClickLock"
option in "Mouse Properties" which is available in the Control Panel. See the
section on this page "Setting the Mouse Properties
in Windows" about using ClickLock. If you don't have the ClickLock option,
for example, if you are using Windows 98, you will most likely want to use the
Point-N-Click or ClickAssist software in order to perform the click, hold and
drag mouse function.
Upper Case Letters
You don't need to use the shift key to capitalize letters. To type upper case
letters use a right-click when hovering over the desired character. To type
lower case letters use a left-click.
Macros
Macros allow you to store strings of text and type them using a single click.
Be sure to read about macros in the help file. You don't need to click the Alt
key in order to type a macro that has been previously stored. Just use a down-click
(equivalent to a middle button click) on the letter assigned to the desired
macro.
Program Options
It is worthwhile to examine the options for Click-N-Type under the "Options"
menu. View the help files for descriptions of the all options.
Some options worthy of special note are:
Under "Options", "Program Preferences..."
"Drop and Hide when not in use"
This option drops the keyboard down on the screen so that just a sliver of it
shows. This happens after an adjustable period of time when the focus is changed
to another window (when the keyboard window is not "active") or when the mouce
cursor is moved off of the keyboard. The size of the visible "sliver" is also
adjustable. This option is really handy when visiting websites to keep the keyboard
from obscuring the web pages. To get the keyboard back on the screen, just move
the mouse over the visible sliver and the keyboard pops back up.
Under "Options", "Program Preferences..."
"Start the keyboard at Boot Up"
This option saves you the trouble of starting the keyboard manually, although it is easy to start by double-clicking the icon on the desktop like any other program.
Word Prediction
Be sure to study the Click-N-Type help files regarding the Word Prediction feature.
This can be quite a time-saver and several options are available.