[access-uk] jaws scripts for ITunes
- From: "Brian Hartgen" <brian@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 24 Jun 2005 16:32:48 +0100
Hi
Members of the BCAB list may have seen my message to the effect that
audible.co.uk was officially launched on 15 June. All the prices on the site
are now in British pounds, they have a British phone number on there to contact
them if you want to, and there is British content on the site as well as the
existing material. There are British people on the end of the phone line too
(smile)! I know, I've spoken to them.
Given that Audible.co.uk are now offering a free IPod Shuffle if you sign up
for one of their listener plans, and because there are problems with
transferring audible books using Annapod explorer, I have decided to create
some jaws scripts for ITunes to make ITunes a totally keyboard accessible
program as far as I can. Now that audible.co.uk is properly up and running, I
am really keen to promote it as of course any source of audio books is a good
thing. Added to this, if we have a situation where a visually impaired person
can get the IPod Shuffle and not have to pay anything additional, this is a
bonus.
These scripts will be free of charge, basically because I am creating them
since I personally want access to ITunes and the Shuffle to transfer books from
audible. They should be ready for anyone who would like them some time within
the next two weeks, and if people would like them as and when, please send
me a message.
At the moment, the following features are included. Please remember I am at an
early stage with this.
1. I have included the ability to track focus in the various lists, for example
what I call the main category list displaying such items as "library, radio,
music store, etc." The good thing is that my scripts do not depend upon
highlight colour assignments to track the focus. This should also apply to the
list of songs in the opposite list which shows which songs are on the IPod
Shuffle, although this has not been tested yet as I am awaiting my new IPod
from Audible.
2. The concept behind these scripts is that everything should be accessible
from the keyboard. Therefore, we have a keystroke which moves you directly
into the library area where all the music or books are stored. Once there, you
can use navigational keystrokes to move forward and back through the available
songs or books in your library. Jaws will
announce the song in the library as you move to it, and will advise you when
you get to the top or bottom of the list.
3. If you use the library navigation keys to find a song you wish to manipulate
in the library such as to play it or delete it, use a separate keystroke to
select it, whereupon it can be manipulated.
4. The other thing I have done is to make it possible to drag and drop into
ITunes from windows explorer, and this seems to work well with audible books.
You find the file you want, copy it to the clipboard with control+C, then
alt+tab over to ITunes, and hit control+V to paste it in there.
That's about it for the moment, but if anyone has any further suggestions, feel
free to let me know.
Brian Hartgen
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