I'm not a Java developer but if I were to architect accessibility in
that environment I'd want to provide Java APIs to say "speak this text
now", "move focus to this object" and other functions. Under the hood
the native JRE would then need to plug that into Apple's accessibility
layer, MSAA, IA2 or whatever the platform supports. The Java developer
is supposed to be shielded from cross-platform issues.
CB
Cara Quinn wrote:
Hey Scott, yes you're right, but what I was meaning was how one
would direct VoiceOver or the system to speak specific phrases in an app.
For example, if you're coding using Swing, then a Java app is pretty
much accessible out of the box so to speak, but this doesn't tell me
how to tell VoiceOver to say a specific line of text just as it gets
printed to a window per se.
Does that make sense?…
Anyway, -hope all is well witcha <smile> and have a nice night, K?…
Smiles,
Cara :)
On Jun 11, 2008, at 6:53 PM, Scott Bresnahan wrote:
Hi,
Java deals with accessibility in its framework from the start.
Objects support the accessible interface which defines how a UI or
any java object can respond to adaptive technology. So, the APIs of
Apple or any other vendor, are hidden. It's up the JVM to implement
the java framework on the native platform.
If you're interested in this, I suggest you look at the
java.accessibilty package and the accessible interfaces in the java
framework docs.
I have not seen an accessible java application on any platform, so I
cannot comment on what a Mac would do to a properly coded java
application.
You've made me curious though....
--Scott
AGreed as well, and very good post! I'm actually wondering the
same thing myself, but for differing reasons. I'm wanting to do a
bit more work with Java apps on the Mac and need to know more about
this very issue.
VO may be a moving target behind the scenes, and that sure would be
an issue for the moment, but as it seems that Apple has taken quite
a bit of care to create / maintain / make public, their framework
for accessible apps, I'd doubt it. However, as improvements are
always being made, it is certainly possible to some degree?Š
Thanks for your note and have a wonderful day!Š
Smiles,
Cara :)
On Jun 10, 2008, at 7:31 AM, Chris Blouch wrote:
I wonder if he is referring to things under the hood like the Apple
Accessibility API and such. While VO generally provides full access
to everything on the Mac, if you're wanting to plug stuff into VO
underneath (like Flash accessibility) are the APIs consistent? Have
they been shifting and changing with each release? I don't actually
know but the developer might see VO as shifting sand while the user
is productive and happy. It could be that I'm in the lobby with the
comfy chairs and tinkling fountain but down in the basement the
plumbing is full of leaks and things to knock your head on.
CB
Cara Quinn wrote:
darcy, I absolutely agree 100 percent! I'm using Mac exclusively
right now, and as I've mentioned here before, I work to a huge
degree on the web all the time for castings, and dealing with
agents and such. So for someone to arbitrarily say that VO, (my
current exclusive means of speech output) is less than 'mature' is
a bit uninformed at the very least.
On top of that, it's also a bit of a catch 22, as VO will never
be seen as mature without at least some degree of flash access,
which to some degree mirrors that of JFW / WE on the Windows
side. So it's a self-fulfilling prophecy, yes?Š
Anyway, I personally am in tremendous need of flash access which
I know I can get with JFW, and would be forced down that road if
it weren't for extremely irritating work-arounds or conventional
site links which could vanish at any moment as some of the sites I
work with regularly are updated. So I'm on a bit of a tenuous
thread here so to speak. I love the Mac side though, and as it's
a joy to work with in large part, I'll stay with it here as access
improves or I'm forced in another direction for certain tasks.
I'd hate to see that happen, but if people keep making arbitrary
uninformed claims or decisions about VO and it's user base /
perceived lack thereof, that may happen.
here's hoping it doesn't though!
Thanks for your note and keep up the wonderful work! You guys rock!Š
Smiles,
Cara :)
On Jun 9, 2008, at 11:27 PM, Darcy Burnard wrote:
Hmmm, wonder if Mr. Kirkpatrick has been reading a little too
much access world.
Seriously though, who gets to decide if a product is mature or
not? I've been a Mac user for two years now, in in the last
year, I bet I could count on my fingers the number of times I've
turned on my windows machine.
This is a cop out in my opinion. They can keep saying this
indefinitely.
Darcy, who now has something more to talk about on Screenless
Switchers tomorrow.
On 9-Jun-08, at 11:12 PM, Greg Kearney wrote:
Got this back from Adobe. Not sure how to reply perhaps the user
community could give Mr. Kirkpatrick an education.
Greg Kearney
535 S. Jackson St.
Casper, Wyoming 82601
307-224-4022
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Begin forwarded message:
From: "Andrew Kirkpatrick" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: June 9, 2008 8:09:29 PM MDT
To: "Greg Kearney" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: RE: Adobe accessibility
Greg,
Tried to chat with you from your site. Unfortunately,
VoiceOver is not
ready for real use as a tool for blind users to gain access to
many
applications and access to HTML content with VO is hardly
mature. As a
result, we have not focused on supporting the Mac accessibility
API in
the Flash player yet.
The Australian law doesn't require cross-platform accessibility,
particularly when there is no mature tool on one of the
platforms in
question, resulting in no users requiring screen reader access
in that
environment.
AWK
Lloyd Rasmussen at the Library of Congress suggested I communicate
with you concerning accessbility of Flash content with in the
Macintosh environment with VoiceOver.
Later this month I will be traveling to Australia where I will be
working on accessible websites. Australian law requires that
web sites
be accessible. I have been unable to interact with any Flash based
content with VoiceOver on a Mac.
I am wondering if this is an issue that is being addressed or
not as I
will need to advise my clients as to the legal use of Flash
content.
Thank you for your time.
Greg Kearney
535 S. Jackson St.
Casper, Wyoming 82601
307-224-4022
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
---
View my Online Portfolio at:
http://www.onemodelplace.com/CaraQuinn
---
View my Online Portfolio at:
http://www.onemodelplace.com/CaraQuinn
--
--Scott
---
View my Online Portfolio at:
http://www.onemodelplace.com/CaraQuinn
