Fine Motor Control

Do the controls require fine motor control?

A frustrated man with both arms in big casts is trying to use his fingers to operate small controls of a keypad entry.

Products must be operable with limited fine motor control, reach and strength. This is illustrated with an image of a frustrated man standing in front of a keypad entry with both arms in big casts that limit the movement of his fingers. He is reaching up to the wall in front of him trying to enter numbers on the keypad but the buttons are too small and close together for him to use because of his limited finger movement. This standard applies to other products with controls such as keypad entry devices, printers, scanners, keyboards, information transaction machines, phones and pagers.

(Content and illustration: Neil Squire Society)

The standard this example illustrates:

Section 508 functional standards 1194.31 (f)

At least one mode of operation and information retrieval that does not require fine motor control or simultaneous actions and that is operable with limited reach and strength shall be provided.

Products to which this standard may apply:

• Photocopiers
• Multifunction devices
• ... and other similar or related products.