How can one make the mouse cursor bigger?

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Level 1

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How can one make the mouse cursor bigger?

Being visually impaired I need to make the mouse cursor bigger. How can I do that? Perhaps 2 times larger would be a good help

imac 400mhz blueberry Mac OS 9.2.x

Posted on Mar 19, 2006 12:07 AM

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Answer 1

Mar 19, 2006 5:03 AM in response to B'ichela

Hi,

Yes, I'm sure you can.

I don't have any definite products / solutions yet, but I do remember there were a number of ways to do this, or something similar, in the early days of laptop computing. It was more to do with the LCD screen technology, called passive matrix, and made following the mouse extremely hard for everyone.

Apple System software has an excellent history of helping universal access (which is the name of the System Pref in OSX to do this). I do remember a Control Panel / Extension called Close View from System 7.

I shall look into the full OS9 product and see what might be useful.

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Answer 2

Mar 19, 2006 5:51 AM in response to B'ichela

Hi, B'ichela -

OS 9's Universal Access suite of software has many features, but enlarging just the cursor is not one of them.

The site Pure Mac has at least one utility for doing that, Biggy-Light, on this page -
http://www.pure-mac.com/faceliftclassic.html

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Answer 3

Mar 19, 2006 6:56 AM in response to B'ichela

Check out the cursors at http://trace.wisc.edu/world/computer_access/mac/macshare.html

I use the ColorArrow, which is a red arrow. It has three sizes. I use a size the same as the standard Mac black arrow. The large one would be ideal for you.

Cheers, Tom

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Answer 4

Mar 20, 2006 2:59 AM in response to B'ichela

Don and Tom to the rescue.

I was also thinking of an extension for OS8 and OS9 that gave the mouse an Aqua or Bondi Blue look, but your red mouse is probably just as good.

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Answer 5

John R.

Level 1

30 points

Mar 22, 2006 1:11 AM in response to B'ichela

Hi B'ichela;
“Easy Access” & “Close View” are not installed in the normal install of any OS but they ARE on your “Mac OS 9 Install Disk” (iMac Install CD, whatever you want to call it.) You are looking for “Close View.” It is specifically designed for people who have trouble seeing the monitor. Just look inside “CD Extras>Universal Access>Close View.” Grab that & drop it on your System Folder on your Startup Drive (click ok) & Restart. Once your iMac is restarted go into the Control Panels Folder and set the preferences the way you like.
Many people don’t even know about “Easy Access” & “Close View” but they’re GREAT utilities. Apple even makes it easy to install them by putting them just raw on the Install CD. (You CAN install them with the installer but you must know to customize the install.)

Nebulously Yours:
John R.
Delaware, IN
39 08' 53.3" N
85 12' 26.4" W
Elevation 945'

Cogito Differo Ergo Sum

68000 to G5 Mac OS X (10.3.6) Node 0439

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Answer 6

taerchen

Level 5

5,430 points

Mar 22, 2006 2:29 PM in response to Texas Mac Man

Gee! That University of Wisconsin site has a lot of interesting software utilities on it, including Braile, sign language, and speech programs. Quite interesting. The Pure-Mac site has a lot of interesting stuff, too.

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Answer 7

B'ichela Author

Level 1

0 points

Mar 24, 2006 9:05 PM in response to John R.

Hi B'ichela;
“Easy Access” & “Close View” are not installed in
the normal install of any OS but they ARE on your
“Mac OS 9 Install Disk” (iMac Install CD, whatever
you want to call it.) You are looking for “Close
View.” It is specifically designed for people who
have trouble seeing the monitor. Just look inside

Unfortunately my used Imac did NOT come with the Mac OS Cds, and I do have a copy of Imac 8.6 system install disk that does have this stuff (Forgot about Clo seview, I have it installed on my Performa 6100, the Imac g3 DV 400 cannot boot Mac Os 8.6 (My Perorma 6100CD monitor itself is limited to 640x480 so I rarely used it. Downloaded it from the web and I will try to install it.

I am ordering a Imac G3 DV edition macos 9.0.4 disk from soneone on Ebay (thats the model of mac I have.) Being on disability I cannot afford to pay for retail list for Mac Os 9.2.2 right now. Does anyone have a copy with manual laying around that they would live to give to a good home?
imac 400mhz blueberry Mac OS 9.2.x

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Answer 8

eww

Level 9

53,052 points

Mar 25, 2006 5:02 AM in response to B'ichela

Hi, B'ichela. If the OS 9.0.4 disk you've ordered is indeed the right one for your iMac, you'll be able to upgrade from that to 9.2.2 at no cost, using the downloadable OS 9.1, 9.2.1 and 9.2.2 updaters in sequence. Those can all be accessed from this article.

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