Me!
Several
years ago I developed tendonitis -- or something like
it that seems to have confounded a number of doctors,
conventional and alternative. All I really know about
the pain is that it came originally from using computers
too much at my job as a programmer/engineer.
I hadn't
been able to work full time since then, until I wrote
the prototype of MouseTool in January of 1997.
I've tried
lots of mice, I've tried physical therapy, I've tried
repositioning the mouse and keyboard. The best
thing I've found on the market is the GlidePoint mouse.
This is a great mouse, and if I didn't have MouseTool,
I'd be using one. At the moment, though, my GlidePoint
is in my closet in a box of old mice.
My first
attempt to build something myself to let me use computers
was a touch-sensitive button on a standard mouse.
This helps immensely. All mice should be built with
touch-switches. I used a prototype touch-sensitive
mouse for a couple of years, but wasn't sure how to
distribute it to others in need. I'm a good programmer,
but I'd make a really bad manufacturer. And, the touch-sensitive
mouse still requires you to move your fingers to click,
which still irritates my wrists.
And then
it ocurred to me how to do it in software, and the
MouseTool was born. I've been using it daily since
the first prototype was finished, and it is a godsend
to me. I can't vouch for how well it will help anyone
else, but I could not work without it.
On a good
day, I can use a normal mouse for about ten minutes
or so, and then I have to stop if I want to avoid
pain. I can use a touch-sensitive mouse for a couple
of hours. I can use a normal mouse with the MouseTool
much longer.
I want people
to use this if it helps them. I want to help people
get back to doing their jobs and using their tools
without fear of pain.
-- Jeff
Roush
