accessibility does not mean what it sounds like. It seems that sun and microsoft are cut from the same cloth on this now and possibly ibm now too but You are correct, it does not mention jaws for a good reason. For them, jaws does not automatically work and they don't want to put in the effort but I hope freedom does. Johnnie Apple Seed ----- Original Message ----- From: "Chip Orange" <Corange@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: <jfw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Tuesday, December 07, 2004 10:02 AM Subject: Improved java access While the following article itself doesn't pertain to jaws directly, I hope it signals a new effort in general to make java systems more accessible (since I often still have difficulty with jaws and a java application): Sun demos accessibility for open-source systems By Thomas R. Temin GCN Staff Sun Microsystems demonstrated what it calls the third generation of desktop computer accessibility technology, which it hopes to start shipping for the Linux operating system next year. Peter Korn, Sun's chief accessibility architect, demonstrated a bundle of accessible software collectively called Java Desktop System. It consists of Linux or Solaris x86, version 2.4 of the Gnome graphical interface system--which incorporates Sun's accessibility architecture-and a suite of applications all programmed to interact with the accessibility features in Gnome. Applications include the StarOffice productivity suite, the Mozilla Web browser and Sun's Evolution, a calendar and e-mail application. Korn said of the accessibility features, "This is incredibly liberating." Korn was a keynote speaker at the annual Interagency Disability Educational Awareness Showcase, or IDEAS, conference in Washington. He predicted that by building, or buying applications built to, open-source APIs, government agencies would more easily be able to keep up with Section 508 accessibility mandates with less risk of breaking applications when one element of a system changes. One innovation is how on-screen keyboard buttons can include drop-down menu items specific to a given application or function. This lets mobility-impaired users complete tasks much more quickly than do the on-screen keyboards available under Microsoft Windows. Korn demonstrated the Linux version of Java Desktop System on a PC, but the software was a Sun internal build, not even the beta version. He said when the software eventually ships, it will come installed on Solaris x86 machines, but will be offered separately on disks when combined with Linux. -- To post a message to the list, send it to jfw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send a message to jfw-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word unsubscribe in the subject line. Archives located at: //www.freelists.org/archives/jfw If you have any concerns about the list, post received from the list, or the way the list is being run, do not post them to the list. Rather contact the list owner at jfw-admins@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx -- To post a message to the list, send it to jfw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send a message to jfw-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word unsubscribe in the subject line. Archives located at: //www.freelists.org/archives/jfw If you have any concerns about the list, post received from the list, or the way the list is being run, do not post them to the list. Rather contact the list owner at jfw-admins@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx