[bcab] Re: Fw: AJAX and accessibility - Jaws to the rescue?

Hi Tink,

I don't think Window-Eyes will currently do that well in the Ajax market,
but I don't think any public release has started on it yet.

All the best

Steve

-----Original Message-----
From: bcab-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:bcab-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of Léonie Watson
Sent: 23 July 2007 19:56
To: bcab@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [bcab] Re: Fw: AJAX and accessibility - Jaws to the rescue?

Evening,

        It's worth noting that Jaws already has reasonable support for AJAX.
Using a set of seven benchmark tests, SA To Go completes all tests
successfully, whilst Jaws failed one and partially failed another.

        I haven't had the opportunity to test Window Eyes just yet, but will
publish the full results as soon as I can find time to complete the tests.

Regards,
Léonie. 

-----Original Message-----
From: bcab-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:bcab-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of editor@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: 23 July 2007 13:44
To: bcab@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [bcab] Fw: AJAX and accessibility - Jaws to the rescue? 

Met Steve Nutt at Sight Village, he was telling me that System Access is
currently the only screen 
reader to support AJAX fully.   Well, looks like this could be about to
change, although just a 
rumour at this stage.   Whether or not it's true, I wouldn't be surpised to
hear that Windoweyes 
will be supporting it soon, in the least!   Leon Gilbert.

ENCS.

AJAX and accessibility - Jaws to the rescue?
E-consultancy.com 23/7/07
by Chris Rourke

RIAs like Ajax often have an accessibility weak spot since they need to work
with JavaScript off to meet the basic accessibility guidelines.
Rumour has it that the next version of the popular screen reader Jaws may be
able to handle Ajax interfaces.
Accessify's Ian Lloyd recently made reference on his blog to rumours
regarding screen reader Jaws 9.0 possibly having support for Ajax. According
to Ian's source, the release notes for Jaws 8.0 made reference to support
for Ajax functionality, however all references were removed prior to launch.
It would be an interesting development if Jaws 9.0 were to support Ajax.
Ajax and other similar technologies such as Flex have revolutionised the way
in which we interact with the web and have enhanced the user experience
significantly. If this increase in usability was available to blind or
partially sighted users then their entire experience of the web could be
different.
Presumably the new version of Jaws will be using the small data transfers
that occur in AJAX as triggers for the screen reading interactions, rather
than full page refreshes which is currently used. Still, careful
standards-compliant coding of the page will no doubt be necessary.
Screen reader software manufacturers have been notoriously slow to react to
Internet trends. Any indication that they are starting to move with the
times is welcome. The other factor in the interia is the relatively high
cost of Jaws and other assistive technologies that can deter many users from
upgrading to the latest versions.
Perhaps more significant is the presumption that where one leads the others
must follow. Freedom Scientific's competitors would surely require to
provide similar functionality in their own software.
Only when Jaws 9.0 is released will we finally discover whether it supports
Ajax and if so, exactly how it will go about reading pages designed this
way. Until then, we wait with anticipation.
For those interested in the world of AJAX and the impacton accessibility a
couple other useful areas to check out are the IBM Ajax Accessibility page
by Becky Gibson, and the W3C's ARIA framework.
Chris Rourke is the managing director of User Vision.

(Source URL)
http://www.e-consultancy.com/news-blog/363851/ajax-and-accessibility--jaws-t
o-the-rescue.html


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