Scanning interface

An interaction method in which items on a screen are sequentially highlighted one at a time (or in groups), and the user activates a switch to select the currently highlighted item. Scanning interfaces provide computer access for individuals with severe motor impairments who can only reliably control a single binary input — such as a button press, head movement, or eye blink. While slow compared to direct selection, scanning enables access to full computing functionality including text entry, application control, and web browsing. Scan patterns include linear (item by item), row-column (first select a row, then an item within it), and group scanning for efficiency.