Self-service checkout screen

[Jane]

Just wondering if anyone else has problems with touch-screens at supermarket self-service checkouts etc? Today I couldn't get the "Start" button at Tescos to work, on two different screens, so had to call the assistant over and she had no problem at all. I've noticed it a couple of other times over the last few months so generally try to avoid self-service checkouts. I was wondering if the problem is caused by lack of electrical (?) messages getting through to my fingertips, as my MND symptoms started in my hands, two years ago now. I have no idea how touch screens work, but have no trouble at all with my smart phone. Anyway, it upset me as I had to ask for help and reminded me that my MND is causing new unexpected difficulties on an almost weekly basis now. Or maybe I just wasn't pressing the touch-screen in the right way!

[Ellie]

Jane It's likely to be lack of pressure on the relevant part of the screen, particularly if you have to lift your arm up to reach the screen.

I wonder if you could support your elbow or wrist with your other arm, or put one hand on top of the other to exert more pressure, would that help?

I do all my shopping online 👍

[Zante]

Jane Same here with the self service machines. I kept prodding it hard with sporadic affect, most days this happens. With smartphone the thumbs touch the screen fine but index fingers often get no response on phone. Didnt have a problem until all this started so like Ellie says its no doubt the lack of pressure. x

[Arcadian]

Early weird problems for me were spelling mistakes of the middle letters of words on tablet touch screens (sort of touch type, where I make an effort with first and last letters, but middle letters a couple of characters off to the left).

If I've exerted with my arms at chest height (hedge trimmer / odd jobs), I then struggle to press buttons correctly or get a touch screen to work properly (aim / position).
It's as if I can't quite tell if I've positioned to press right, seems worse with arms raised after exertion.
I find tactile press buttons easier (as long as not too hard to press in, like industrial switches etc.), as at least you get some feedback.


Seems to coincide with a 'vague' or hollow feeling in my mid arm muscles.

I can feel everything sensory by touch, but positioning or 'instruction' to position is off.

[denise]

I noticed Stephen couldn't use his touch screen on his phone. Couldn't take photos for instance. His soft touch seemed to have gone so he just appeared to be poking at it and the screen didn't respond.

[TinyLady]

This is really interesting. I've been giving myself a hard time because I have been finding it harder to use my phone and touch screens. I look at what I typed and many letters are missing which is frustrating and everything takes longer and requires more concentration.

[Hope]

I often have problems unlocking my phone because my fingers don’t seem to register when I enter the code. I don’t have any problems with my fingers generally so have wondered why this happens.

[Arcadian]

Cheers for a few folk mentioning their touch screen experiences...

I was going to trade in an old phone. But the 'self check' involved some screen function pixel checks:-
A dot appears in random positions and you click it. I was out of position on most occasions.

I have an industrial bag-stitcher at work (chunky hand-held sewing machine) - re-threading the needle is a lot more challenging now.

Physiotherapist checks earlier this year showed some position matching problems.
Worse with one hand than the other.
The Physiotherapist had me standing up, eyes closed, relaxed and waved one arm around randomly, positioned hand and fingers folded randomly, then still with eyes closed, I had to match the other hand.
Although I felt precisely the fingers positioning she made on one of my hands - I would miss the willful positioning of the other hand's fingers to match (hand / arm was also lower and different angle from body).

Touch screen errors and typing errors in the middle of words were some of the earlier ambiguous issues I can identify along this journey (I'd initially thought a cognitive problem, but it does seem to be positioning, as I have similar issues with small engineering parts).

All of this seems worse when my hands are at chest height (particularly after arm exertion). Just trying to get the correct App icons - I seem to hit the screen before intended, as if my finger tips have bumped into it.
Sensory feedback is fine, but the positioning instruction to the limb is (for anyone who remembers) like an old Mini or Landrover clutch that needs bleeding.

I'm interpreting position issues with the hand(s) similar to feet here - stepping out of a van / tractor and the ground is half a step nearer or futher than thought and comes as a shock (a couple of times with stairs at the bottom step), but the interesting thing is driving the same types of vehicle for 30 years.

[Ellie]

Fine motor skills: you don't realise how pivotal they are until they aren't so fine any more 😩

[Zante]

Ellie yes totally agree. Even though am struggling with the fine motor skills your post made me chuckle ! Until mnd appeared I didn't know anything about muscles etc! X

[Madge]

I find I can use my iPhone with just my thumb and middle finger on right hand. If I use my laptop it is so much harder to type with and my hand gets tired very quickly. I do sometimes record messages instead.

[Jane]

Jane It's likely to be lack of pressure on the relevant part of the screen, particularly if you have to lift your arm up to reach the screen.

I wonder if you could support your elbow or wrist with your other arm, or put one hand on top of the other to exert more pressure, would that help?

I do all my shopping online 👍

Thanks for the advice - maybe I wasn't pressing hard enough so will try that next time. I usually avoid those self-service checkouts though as I'm scared of doing something wrong and then drawing attention to myself, which is exactly what happened yesterday. My voice is getting weaker so I had trouble making myself understood and then got upset.

[Ellie]

My voice is getting weaker so I had trouble making myself understood and then got upset.

Yes, that has happened to quite a few of us Jane, we know what it feels like - let the ground open up and swallow me 😱😱

Hugs in solidarity 🤗🤗 xx

[denise]

Self service check outs are a joke. I avoid them I'd rather have a real person. When this voice goes on about things being in the wrong area I just end up getting help anyway so it's hardly self service.

[Ellie]

Self service check outs are a joke. I avoid them I'd rather have a real person.

For people with MND with absent or impaired speech, self-service can be a godsend. 👍👍