Please help: Large trackpad shunning away wheelchair users like me from Apple ecosystem

[NipunMalh]

I am Nipun Malhotra. I was born with a quadriplegic disability. I am a Disability Rights Activist and social entrepreneur based in India.

I'm a Big Apple fan and use an iPhone 14, Apple Watch 9, AirPods and an Apple TV.

I used a MacBook until 2020, but I had to switch to a Surface Pro 7 that year because the new MacBooks had a trackpad that was too wide for me. When I tried using a friend's MacBook for a day, I found it difficult to type because my hands would accidentally touch the trackpad while typing.

The reason for this is that I can’t lift my hands against gravity. I rest them on both sides of space outside the trackpad (the space of which has reduced with the new wider trackpad) and move them around the keyboard typing with one finger from each hand. While moving my hands they keep accidentally moving onto the trackpad and clicking on it making it impossible to type properly.

I am looking at upgrading my laptop again and am very tempted to buy the M3 MacBook Air. The trackpad is still too large and I'm told there's no way I can disable part of the trackpad? I think this would be a minor software tweak for you but a game changer for me.

Some people suggested deactivating the trackpad and using an external trackpad but that just isn’t a sustainable solution.

Apple prides itself on accessibility. I have heard so many blind friends talk about how Apple has transformed their life. Please guide on who I can speak to at Apple for this simple software tweak - it's a shame that I cannot be part of the ecosystem just because of my disability.

 

[jb310]

I imagine using an external keyboard would help? You can get a cheap, lightweight Bluetooth keyboard and do your typing on that.

 

[NipunMalh]

That would be difficult as it would lead to more hand movement between trackpad and keyboard further slowing me down...

 

[Arctic Moose]

Do you have the accidental trackpad input reduction settings activated?

 

[MacCheetah3]

Foremost, send your feedback directly to Apple (if you haven’t).

As for solutions… There is already a discussion thread on this topic (albeit old) with at least a couple of possible solutions:

Am I the only one with palm rejection problems?

Try with "Tap to click" turned off in System Preferences.

forums.macrumors.com

Am I the only one with palm rejection problems?

I'm having the very same issue here. As Chinese using Chinese input, I frequently press the 5 or 6 digit key with my left-hand point finger to select the Characters. And every time, every freakin' time!! I end up with ghost touches that ruined my input. How come, just how come, in 2022 already...

forums.macrumors.com

While not suitable for all situations/environments, an alternate solution I first thought of was dictation:

 

[wonderings]

I wonder if you could make a cover that fits along the bottom area where the track pad is. The cover would have a cut out reducing the space you could contact the trackpad with

 

[cardfan]

Send email to Tim.

 

[ipaqrat]

... make a cover that fits along the bottom area where the track pad is. The cover would have a cut out reducing the space you could contact the trackpad with

This 👆 is what I call thinking! Make sure the material is nonconductive/static-free, as the trackpad is capacitive. The film should adhere with only the mildest adhesive, better than a post-it, but not like sticky-tape. Stay "Green" if at all possible.

Ordinary paper label stock won't work (it's conductive), but there might be some type of coated paper that's non-conductive and biodegradable. Even better if it's recycled paper. Maybe you fall back to plastic films, like car body wraps.

You could produce these using your own film cutting machine, to fit all each/every mac model precisely. Or you could print cut lines for each Mac model on the backing sheet.

Then you could sell them, or give them away to promote other accessibility projects. They will wear out, which implies repeat sales and giveaways, and options for multiple packs.

You could make them in solid colors and patterned films (diamond plate, plaid, polka dots, sports, leopard???). You could also make blank white on a backing that allows it to be run through a printer (if theres a nonconductive film that can be printed on at all??)

You can supply downloadable print templates that helps align text of graphics, plus cutting templates for popular cutters. Or you could build a printing app that allows saving favorite designs, while presenting a funding pitch or motivational memes. You could even socialize the app for sharing designs (that gets expensive, and you'd need content moderation, because trolls will upload hate and porn; on second thought, no, don't socialize it.)

If promotion and production seems cool, you'd have to move very fast, keep your planning quiet, and plan for a very short period of promotion, profitability or fund raising. This probably won't sustain any kind of business investment, because there's no effective way to protect the intellectual property; within months, clones will flood the market and the project will be over. Then you move on...

 

[NipunMalh]

Haha. Thank you, I came for an accessibility solution and got a business solution instead

On a more serious note - shouldn’t what I’m asking for be a simple software tweak?

 

[NipunMalh]

Thank you. Could you recommend any software tweak for this?

View attachment 2379330 I wonder if you could make a cover that fits along the bottom area where the track pad is. The cover would have a cut out reducing the space you could contact the trackpad wit

 

[NipunMalh]

Already done. No response

Send email to Tim.

 

[wonderings]

Haha. Thank you, I came for an accessibility solution and got a business solution instead

On a more serious note - shouldn’t what I’m asking for be a simple software tweak?

I am sure it could be, but moving a trillion dollar boat apposed to a simpler approach like a cover that does what you need are 2 very different things. I could see something even more comfortable for your hands when resting as well, rather then the metal of the MacBook Pro. No need for it to be business, you could simply look at getting something fabricated for you and your exact specific needs. I would still reach out to Apple though, you never know.

 

[MacCheetah3]

On a more serious note - shouldn’t what I’m asking for be a simple software tweak?

I wouldn’t go as far as to say “simple” but there are methods, such as these for the Linux input device driver:

libinput: Palm detection

Each method has its compromises and inconveniences.

 

[NipunMalh]

I am sure it could be, but moving a trillion dollar boat apposed to a simpler approach like a cover that does what you need are 2 very different things. I could see something even more comfortable for your hands when resting as well, rather then the metal of the MacBook Pro. No need for it to be business, you could simply look at getting something fabricated for you and your exact specific needs. I would still reach out to Apple though, you never know.

What material should I be using to ensure it deactivates parts of the trackpad?

 

[chown33]

What material should I be using to ensure it deactivates parts of the trackpad?

You'll probably have to experiment.

Below are some materials I tested on my Intel MacBook Pro touchpad. Some of these materials are from my "projects box" of leftover materials, which was collected over multiple years. Some are just common office or kitchen supplies, such as the manila folders.

I tested a material by covering about half of the trackpad, then dragging my finger from the exposed trackpad area to the area covered by the material, and back. If the material blocked my finger, I then pressed down a bit harder to see if it would register. All the "press harder" cases weren't enough to activate the actual trackpad switch.

Some of the materials below will be easier to work with than others, or less expensive if you have to make several attempts.

Common office supplies:
manila folder, 1 layer - finger not blocked
manila folder, 2 layers - FINGER BLOCKED
4 sheets of 20lb paper - finger not blocked
FedEx envelope (Tyvek), 1 layer - finger not blocked
FedEx envelope (Tyvek), 2 layers, 0.013" - FINGER BLOCKED

Kitchen supplies:
normal-strength aluminum foil, 2 layers - sometimes blocked, cursor jumps around
wax paper - finger not blocked
plastic sandwich bag, 2 layers - finger not blocked

From a hobby or crafts store:
1/32" model aircraft plywood - FINGER BLOCKED
0.01" flat sheet brass - FINGER BLOCKED
thin top-grain leather - finger not blocked

Random materials:
a credit card (0.05" plastic) - finger not blocked

One last thing: if you close the lid with the "shield" still in place, there may not be enough space. Then the shield will press on the screen, which may damage it.

 

[funwithstuff]

You might be able to use BetterTouchTool to change the functionality of the trackpad to make things easier. https://folivora.ai/

There are many settings for adjusting how the trackpad works, including (on the "Taps" tab): "don't allow tap to click on the left and right edge", which can be set to 20%. That might work, or perhaps you could set up dummy actions that do nothing along the edges.

 

[jdb8167]

You might be able to use BetterTouchTool to change the functionality of the trackpad to make things easier. https://folivora.ai/

There are many settings for adjusting how the trackpad works, including (on the "Taps" tab): "don't allow tap to click on the left and right edge", which can be set to 20%. That might work, or perhaps you could set up dummy actions that do nothing along the edges.

Contact the developer to add top edge too. They are a small indie. I’m sure they’d be responsive.

From their website:

In case you find something you can't do with BTT, please let me know.

 

[gilby101]

You might be able to use BetterTouchTool to change the functionality of the trackpad to make things easier. https://folivora.ai/

That is what I hoped. But in a BTT forum response, in 2020, Andreas (developer) said "The system trackpad can not be disabled by BTT unfortunately".

 

[NipunMalh]

Contact the developer to add top edge too. They are a small indie. I’m sure they’d be responsive.

From their website:

Thank you, will definitely write to them!

Seems this problem has been around for 7 years (found the link below while googling BTT) and others have faced it too. Hope they have developed something since. Any other suggestions?

From the BetterTouchTool community on Reddit

Explore this post and more from the BetterTouchTool community

www.reddit.com

That is what I hoped. But in a BTT forum response, in 2020, Andreas (developer) said "The system trackpad can not be disabled by BTT unfortunately".

Oh damn…would you have any other suggestions? I have written to Apple’s accessibility team as well but seems this problem has been there a while

 

[gilby101]

1) Have you investigated (you probably have):
System Settings > Trackpad: Disable "Tap to click", Set Click sensitivity to Firm.

2) Better Touch Tool may have settings to help you.
a) Trackpad setting to filter out "thumbs and accidental touches".
b) Can define gestures for edges and corners, but I can't quite see how that can help.
c) "Don't allow tap to click on left and right edge" with a slider for how wide (up to 20%).
That last one might help if it really is only the edges which cause problems.

I suggest asking about your specific problems in the BTT forum https://community.folivora.ai/ asking whether BTT can do what you need and how to do it. You are likely to get help from someone who is better at BTT configuration than I am! Andreas does explicitly say only use email for licensing issues and to use the forum for "questions/feature requests/bug reports"

The BTT download gives you a 45 day trial. Be warned it is not easy to configure due to the wealth of possibilities and the danger of unforeseen interactions.

 

[NipunMalh]

1) Have you investigated (you probably have):
System Settings > Trackpad: Disable "Tap to click", Set Click sensitivity to Firm.

2) Better Touch Tool may have settings to help you.
a) Trackpad setting to filter out "thumbs and accidental touches".
b) Can define gestures for edges and corners, but I can't quite see how that can help.
c) "Don't allow tap to click on left and right edge" with a slider for how wide (up to 20%).
That last one might help if it really is only the edges which cause problems.

I suggest asking about your specific problems in the BTT forum https://community.folivora.ai/ asking whether BTT can do what you need and how to do it. You are likely to get help from someone who is better at BTT configuration than I am! Andreas does explicitly say only use email for licensing issues and to use the forum for "questions/feature requests/bug reports"

The BTT download gives you a 45 day trial. Be warned it is not easy to configure due to the wealth of possibilities and the danger of unforeseen interactions.

Thank you, have written on the BTT forum!

 

[NipunMalh]

Sadly BTT doesn’t seem to have a solution too

Not managing to use a MacBook because Apple can’t make a simple tweak to deactivate parts of the trackpad is so frustrating.

Guess will try a hardware solution

 

[NipunMalh]

I eventually went for the MacBook Air M3 512/16 and put two layers of cardboard and electric tape on top of it on all sides. I have been using the MacBook for more than two months now, and it works well.

Thank you for all your help