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Pointer & Zoom

Custom cursor styles and a magnifying lens for better visibility and tracking.

What’s in This Section

Pointer & Zoom helps you see and track the cursor more easily, and magnify page content for better readability. Essential for anyone who loses track of the cursor or struggles with small text.

Features: Custom Cursor, Magnifying Lens

Custom Cursor

What It Does

Replaces the standard mouse cursor with a larger, more visible alternative. Choose from different styles and colours to make the cursor easier to track.

How to Enable

  1. Click the AssisT icon
  2. Expand Pointer & Zoom section
  3. Toggle Custom Cursor ON
  4. Select a cursor style

Cursor Styles

StyleDescriptionBest For
CrosshairCross-shaped overlay centred on the cursorPrecision pointing, line tracking
CircleA coloured circle around the cursor positionCursor tracking difficulties
Dot with RingA dot with a ring around itSeeing the exact point and the general area at once
Large ArrowAn oversized pointer with an accurate tipGeneral visibility, a familiar shape

Each style has accurate hotspot positioning: the arrow tip aligns with your actual click point, while the crosshair, circle and dot styles are centred on it.

Customisation

SettingRangeDefault
Cursor size24px - 96px32px
Cursor colourRed, Green, Yellow, Cyan, Magenta, White, BlackRed

Tips

  • Styles reset cleanly when you switch between them, with no leftover artefacts
  • Combine with the Magnifying Lens for both tracking and zooming

Magnifying Lens

What It Does

A magnified window that follows your cursor, so you can enlarge part of the page without changing the size of everything else.

How to Enable

  1. Click the AssisT icon
  2. Open the Seeing group (or expand Pointer & Zoom on the original layout)
  3. Toggle Magnifying Lens ON

Settings

SettingRangeDefaultDescription
Magnification1.5x - 4x2xHow much the lens enlarges
Lens size100px - 600px275pxHow big the lens window is
Enable offset from cursorOn/OffOffMove the lens away from the pointer so it does not sit on top of what you are reading
Offset distance0px - 500px150pxHow far away, when offset is on
Offset directionRight, Left, Above, Below, Auto (peripheral)Right of cursorWhich side the lens sits on

Page Zoom

AssisT does not replace your browser’s own page zoom. If you want everything on the page bigger, use Chrome’s zoom (Ctrl and + or -), which Chrome remembers per site. Use the Magnifying Lens when you want to enlarge one part at a time, and Text Customisation when you want larger, more readable text without resizing images and layout.

For Educators & Parents

Why Pointer & Zoom Matters

For students with low vision:

  • A larger cursor is easier to track
  • The Magnifying Lens enlarges whatever is under the pointer
  • Reduces eye strain from squinting

For students with motor difficulties:

  • Larger cursor has bigger target area
  • Easier to see where you’re clicking
  • Reduces frustration from lost cursors

For students with attention difficulties:

  • A high-visibility cursor keeps attention on where the pointer is
  • Less time spent searching for a lost cursor

Classroom Tips

  1. Start with cursor changes - less disruptive than magnification
  2. Use the Circle cursor for presentations - the class can follow the pointer
  3. Set Chrome’s page zoom before class - it helps with projected content
  4. Use the Lens for detail - Chrome’s zoom for the whole page, the Lens for one part of it

Technology Setup

For shared devices:

  • Settings are stored per Chrome profile
  • Each student can have their own cursor and lens preferences
  • Consider creating accessibility profiles for common needs

Privacy Note

Pointer and lens features work entirely on your device. No cursor or magnification data is collected.

Learn More