I must gently contest one point of Jim's here: Jim, you say it's an FS problem, not a Skype problem, that JAWS can't access the Skype API, and that the API, being a COM interface, renders Skype accessible just by existing. Your Word example is an excellent one, in that Word is way more accessible to us because of its COM interface. But I am extremely careful about arguing that providing a COM interface is enough to make something "accessible." A big reason is that, by necessity, each application's COM interface would require work, either by scripters or screen reader makers, to use it. If 50 apps suddenly came out with COM interfaces and called themselves natively accessible, it might be months or even years before we could use every one of those apps, simply because of the manpower required to take advantage of the new COM interfaces.
So in Skype's case, I categorically assert that the API itself is not related to whether Skype is "accessible." I very much like the API, I use it, and I have even written Clisk, the Command Line Interface for Skype (http://www.dlee.org/skype/clisk/), and some might argue that I've thus made some things "accessible" to them with it... but Skype on Windows is made "accessible" largely through MSAA, a standard that all screen readers already did most of the hard work to use. All that said, yes you are right that the problem JAWS has with Skype's COM interface is an FS issue to resolve. It does not actually prevent JAWS or scripts from using the API, but acording to all my tests, it makes doing so too dangerous to be wise. (I've explained numerous times on this list why I say that.) It may be time to revisit that question yet again, just to see if anything has changed thugh. On Thu, Feb 25, 2010 at 03:15:14PM -0800, Jim Grimsby JR. wrote: first I must point out that this is a new releace. it is clear that the user interface has been updated internally probbably to increase stability. it is also clear that the skype people have updated the controls used. as these are new controls so access will need to be updated. this is a fact of life. also the argument could be maid and should be maid in this case that the information you are speaking about has been accessable with out any changes from skype 1.4.78. it is a defishentacy in jaws it self that does not allow for the use of the skype com interface. so while skype probably should and probably will provide access to these controls for getting on line status etc you can't really just point the fingur at skype alone. for example lets say jaws could not use the dom com interface in microsoft word. then would you say microsoft has failed to provide a means of accessing word documents? no you can't make this claimb because the fact is microsoft provides a com interface for word and it is not the fault of Microsoft that jaws can not use it. now of course this is not true of word but it is true for skype. there is a com interface that provides this information so skype has already maid the information accessible the screen reader jaws can not use this com interface so the blaim has to be put on the screen reader. now when we are talking about information that the com interface does not provide and is not provided buy skype in some means that the screen reader can not access then you got a accessibility problem. for example lets look at a qt program that is not using the qt access rapper. now there is no way to find now you got a situation where there is no way for a screen reader to get the information from the program and so it needs to be fixed. on the other hand if they offer another com interface to get the same information then it is up to the screen reader to access that com interface and get the information the screen reader needs. if the screen reader can not access that com interface because of a problem with the screen reader and not the com interface then it is up to the screen reader to fix that problem. lets show another real world example fire fox does not use standard windows progress bars. how-ever MSAA is used to provide access to the progress bars. now there is a bug in window-eyes at the moment where MSAA progress bars create problems. is this some thing mozilla should fix? no Gwmicro is the one with the issue and they should fix it. in the case of skype Fs is the one with the issue not allowing access to the skype com interface and they should fix it. now if skype is willing to use MSAA to provide access to something they have already provided access to threw the com interface then we should be glad of this express to them we appreciate it and give them time to do so. also if your going to be angry at some one get angry at the makers of jaws who have3 not done anything about allowing access to the com interface which has been a long standing problem. at least skype has maid efferts to accommodate for the problem. I have not seen any efferts on the part of fs to fix the problem on there end. also remember this making programs accessible is an acomadation they are making for you. not something they oh you. so luse the owe me adatude.. fs owes you access because they make the access program you bought and payed for skype doesn't owe it to you. and they aspehsaly don't owe you twice. meaning the access is already there and it is not the fault of skype if jaws can't use it. -------------------------------------------------- From: "Michele Barbi" <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, February 25, 2010 9:42 AM To: "screen access software with skype" <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [Skypeenglish] Skype 4.2 beta status >Well said, Marius! I totally agree! Skype People, WHY ARE YOU ACTING >SO BADLY? Why you promised to improve accessibility and then we're >again at the same situation which occurred with Sk 4.0? We! Want! >Actions! And! Not! Only! Words! >Very angry regards. >The american idiot. > >Thanks for posting to the skype english list. To access scripts for >the latest version of skype go to >http://www.dlee.org/skype >To access tutorials and other goodies go to >http://www.marrie.org/skype/skype.html > > >To contact the list owner send a message to >mailto:[email protected] > >to download a tool to automate the installation of skypewatch go to >this link. >http://www.hrvojekatic.tk/ > >and for a searchable archives page go here. >http://bit.ly/64Y48 > >thanks and have a wonderful day. > > >_______________________________________________ >Skypeenglish mailing list >[email protected] >http://emissives.com/mailman/listinfo/skypeenglish_emissives.com Thanks for posting to the skype english list. To access scripts for the latest version of skype go to http://www.dlee.org/skype To access tutorials and other goodies go to http://www.marrie.org/skype/skype.html To contact the list owner send a message to mailto:[email protected] to download a tool to automate the installation of skypewatch go to this link. http://www.hrvojekatic.tk/ and for a searchable archives page go here. http://bit.ly/64Y48 thanks and have a wonderful day. _______________________________________________ Skypeenglish mailing list [email protected] http://emissives.com/mailman/listinfo/skypeenglish_emissives.com -- Doug Lee [email protected] http://www.dlee.org SSB BART Group [email protected] http://www.ssbbartgroup.com The very smart may feel they have nothing to learn from anyone; The very wise will find something to learn from everyone. (7/14/01) Thanks for posting to the skype english list. To access scripts for the latest version of skype go to http://www.dlee.org/skype To access tutorials and other goodies go to http://www.marrie.org/skype/skype.html To contact the list owner send a message to mailto:[email protected] to download a tool to automate the installation of skypewatch go to this link. http://www.hrvojekatic.tk/ and for a searchable archives page go here. http://bit.ly/64Y48 thanks and have a wonderful day. _______________________________________________ Skypeenglish mailing list [email protected] http://emissives.com/mailman/listinfo/skypeenglish_emissives.com
