RE: Java Resources?
- From: "Macarty, Jay {PBSG}" <Jay.Macarty@xxxxxxxx>
- To: <programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 27 Dec 2007 17:18:44 -0600
Jared,
In its simplest form, the difference between swing and SWT, from an
accessibility perspective, is that SWT uses the underlying components of
the operating system to render the objects on the screen like buttons or
check boxes. Swing, on the other hand, works to achieve platform
independence by painting its own graphics representations of components
rather than lying on the operating system. While this offers some
constancy in behavior and look-and-feel for swing, it poses problems for
screens reading software. Swing is the more common GUI tool for java, at
this time, because the API package is included automatically with the
java development and runtime cores where as SWT is an add-on API.
The most common approach to resolving the issue of a screen reader not
being able to tell what is going on inside a java program is a
technology add-on for java called the Java Access Bridge or JAB. This
technology attempts to expose the java objects to the outside world
where a screen reader can access it; however, the screen reader must be
coded with logic to utilize the access bridge API. At this time, neither
Windows-Eyes nor System Access have releases which include the Java
Access Bridge support.
While java can be an accessibility obstacle, the ironic thing is that it
actually contains one of the best accessibility frameworks around. Its
just a matter of being able to best take advantage of the framework that
is there. This is where the java screen reader I and Sina have been
working on comes into play. Our thoughts were that the best way to take
advantage of the full power of the java accessibility framework is from
within java itself not through a bridge technology. This is the approach
we have individually taken and hope to merge.
More on the status of the java screen reader and the SSIP server later.
-----Original Message-----
From: programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Jared Wright
Sent: Thursday, December 27, 2007 2:20 PM
To: programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: Java Resources?
Hi there Jay, Very good advice, which I have catalogued away and will
certainly try to keep in the forefront of my mind as I dive in. As much
as learning Java, I'm using Java as a medium to try and learn OOP
properly, and what you've told me helps me to validate this particular
approach.
I am familiar with the trouble Window Eyes has with Java GUIs,
although the particulars of it which you've explained do fill in some of
the gaps. Can you point me to where I can learn more about the
differences between swing and SWT? I gather that SWT does not have the
accessibility problems that swing does, or at least not as prominently.
I'm sure there's a reason why swing is the GUI used by most Java
applications I've run across. Is there any specific factor that makes
swing preferable in these cases? I admit I am coming to this very green
on Java, so I don't know a ton about its various nuts and bolts or what
they're used for. I'm sure this will come in time. I do not know yet
what will or will not be used in the class, but for now I'm mostly
getting a head start simply for my own edification. And I'll anxiously
await more news on your Java screen reader as well as the SSIP voice
server. I've seen some traffic about this on the list, but I'll admit
that I didn't quite understand its ramifications just by skimming the
relevant posts. I'll start paying closer atention to its progress now
for certain. Thanks a lot for the helpful feedback, and I'll be sure to
ask more questions as I think of them.
Jared
Macarty, Jay {PBSG} wrote:
> Jared,
> The primary advice I can offer, as you enter the world of object
> oriented programming, is something my college adviser in computer
> science told me a long time ago. Spend the time up front to learn the
> fundamentals and the rest will come much easier. When I first learned
> java, I came from a background of 12+ years working with languages
such
> as COBOL, C, and REXX. It took a little while to get down the idea of
> thinking of programs in terms of objects. Take the time to learn the
> fundamentals of OO, such as inheritance, polymorphism, and
encapsulation
> and what they "really" mean in terms of constructing a program or
> project. Once you get down the principles, the specific language, such
> as java, ruby, C#, etc., becomes a matter of learning the syntax of
how
> to apply those principles in a given language. I've seen way too many
so
> called "experienced" java programmers with code that still looks like
it
> was just converted COBOL code.
>
> Another reason to concentrate on the principles of OO and understand
> them well is the emerging emphasis on a system architecture approach
> known as service oriented architecture or SOA. SOA takes many of the
OO
> programming ideas you will learn, such as encapsulation and loose
> coupling, and applies those principles to services (that is autonomous
> peaces of business functionality and composites of those basic
services)
> instead of just programs. Like object oriented programming, SOA, is a
> way of thinking and not just a bunch of applications put together as
web
> services. Your grasp of OO programming will serve you well if you get
it
> down now in both the areas of programming languages and system
> architectures.
>
> As for your being a Window-Eyes user, I have been told by the good
folks
> over at GW Micro that java support is coming in a future release;
> however, as it stands today, you may have some obstacles when it comes
> to working with java's primary GUI interface called swing. As long as
> your class is spending time on using java as the back-end of web
> applications (such as JSP, java server faces, and servlets) or if you
> get into using the GUI interface called SWT, you'll likely be okay.
But
> when you start using swing, Window-Eyes 6.1 will not read the screens.
I
> don't have a timeframe on when java support will be available in
> Window-Eyes (I've asked to be a beta tester). I've recently revived my
> own java based screen reader which I hadn't worked on for a couple of
> years seriously. I've still got some work to do and am looking forward
> to comparing notes with Sina on some similar work; however, my screen
> reader works exactly the same under JAWS, Window-Eyes, and System
> Access. I hope to release a beta version of the screen reader, along
> with version 1.0 of the SSIP voice server, within the next couple of
> weeks.
>
> Good luck on your studies and we look forward to hearing of your
> progress.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> [mailto:programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Jared
Wright
> Sent: Thursday, December 27, 2007 12:26 AM
> To: programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: Java Resources?
>
> Hi Everyone, Next semester I start a course on object oriented
> programming with Java as its instructional language. Probably high
time
> I get familiar with it anyhow. I've grabbed all of Jamal's Java
> documentation from Inthin's page and wanted to check for any tips or
> resources you all might have on working with Java, either generally or
> as relates the accessibility puzzle. Given the wealth of information
in
> Jamal's archive, I'll also welcome any feedback on what you consider
the
>
> most effective learning resources, either in his archive or otherwise.
> For context's sake, I am a Window Eyes user and am not yet all that
> efficient in Linux, but it is another one of my current persistent
> projects, so if there are any resources that are head and shoulders
> above anything else and not on Windows, I'm open to giving it a shot.
> Definitley more at home on Windows still though. Thanks in advance for
> any responses, which I do look forward to reading.
>
> Best,
> Jared
> __________
> View the list's information and change your settings at
> //www.freelists.org/list/programmingblind
> __________
> View the list's information and change your settings at
> //www.freelists.org/list/programmingblind
>
>
>
__________
View the list's information and change your settings at
//www.freelists.org/list/programmingblind
__________
View the list's information and change your settings at
//www.freelists.org/list/programmingblind
Other related posts:
