A Browser of Zac’s Own
June 3, 2008 by Kristina Chew, PhD
Filed under Technology
This would be ZacBrowser, which John LeSieur, who owns a software business, created for his 6-year-old autistic grandson, Zachary. The “whirldwind of options” on a computer were too much for Zachary who “threw the mouse in frustration.” From today’s ABC News:
The Zac Browser greatly simplifies the experience of using a computer. It seals off most Web sites from view, to block violent, sexual or otherwise adult-themed material. Instead it presents a hand-picked slate of choices from free, public Web sites, with an emphasis on educational games, music, videos and visually entertaining images, like a virtual aquarium.
Other programs for children already offer that “walled garden” approach to the Web. But LeSieur’s browser aims to go further: It essentially takes over the computer and reduces the controls available for children like Zackary, who finds too many choices overwhelming.
For example, the Zac Browser disables extraneous keyboard buttons like “Print Screen” and turns off the right button on the mouse. That eliminates commands most children don’t need anyway, and it reduces the chance an autistic child will lose confidence after making a counterproductive click.
Children using the Zac Browser select activities by clicking on bigger-than-normal icons, like a soccer ball for games and a stack of books for “stories.” The Zac Browser also configures the view so no advertisements or other flashing distractions appear.
It’s an intriguing project. My own son has not been a big user of the computer because there’s just “too much”: Too many functions that he accidentally turns on with a keystroke too often; too much going on visually for Charlie to take in all at once. Check out the ZacBrowser by going here; we’re giving it a test-drive here.
Jeff Stimpson
Jill Cornfield
I was just reading about it and thought I would check it out for Nick. Matt used the intelli keyboard at school but no much feedback on it at IEP so seems he is no longer in need of it so I need to pursue it further and find out about it.
I was wondering if anyone uses the toolbar from Froggy Rock. Since it has some orgs I am not interested in not sure about using it, but might do both to write about them at some point in time.
I typed my comment and pressed submit and get this page:
“The webpage cannot be found
HTTP 400
Most likely causes:
There might be a typing error in the address.
If you clicked on a link, it may be out of date.”
When I use back space and get message I typed there again I try to click and get message from this site saying duplicate comment, and I go to main page and comment not there.
Sorry about that—I’ve had some “kinks” with the software today.
We tried one of those big keys keyboards for Charlie and it didn’t make a difference—-he was puzzled I thought as he was used to a regular keyboard, though it is harder for him to use.
We will deffinitely check out zacbrowser, my husband did a similar thing on our sons’ computer. We took an old Mac and he re wrote the desktop so L and K have two or three choices of icons, for their music, “fissy” an aquarium screensaver they love, or “letters”, a simple word processing page L can practice typing words. A single click starts the programs and that is all. they love it and ask to do computer every day. Haven’t tried the internet yet, they are only 3 and 2.
I think I need your husband to rewrite the desktop on Charlie’s computer!
Amigo doesn’t see the flashing ads or the extraneous borders — he’s blind. When he was younger, however, a browser like this might have worked for him. Now? At 16, he needs a parent nearby to make sure he’s not watching inappropriate sites — much like other teens.
The comments here reflect my own research findings: simple interfaces were preferred by the adults with autism I studied last summer. They really disliked sudden music, pop-up ads, any video, et cetera. The simpler the Web experience, the better.
I have written about computers and how they set me free. I can type even when I am far too stressed to speak. I can type when nothing I say makes sense. However, I cannot always use a mouse — the things annoy me when I am shaking.
I get all misty-eyed when I think about my Commodore systems, the first Apple and Atari computers I used… the machines that let me be more than a strangely unsocial (as opposed to anti-social) kid.
Let us remember that Section 508 mandates mean the Web should be a lot better more user friendly than it is. Companies like Target lose huge lawsuits and end up spending millions to redesign their sites, already. (The Target lawsuit last year was on behalf of the blind, but the court ruled all disabilities had to be addressed by any U.S. vendor.)
Here’s to a better future!
It doesn’t look like it is available for macs. I use parental controls with the boys’ computers and it works out OK. My only problem is that the new google earth introduced them to youtube and they are hooked.
Charlie’s seen some Youtube but he’s been shutting the computer for the past months—-his interest comes and goes in phases.
I think I’m more in need of the ZacBrowser than my son. He’s 8 now, and I regularly consult him about how to fix the settings on my browser, rather than vice versa…
We got a parental control program, but as soon as my husband figured out how to set it, my son figured out how to change the settings!