RE: Comparing fruit baskets in Flash, Silverlight, and native HTML
- From: Katherine Moss <Katherine.Moss@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 27 May 2011 19:56:51 +0000
I tried your Silverlight app, and I could only get the page to open. I could
see nothing on the page at all.
-----Original Message-----
From: programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Jamal Mazrui
Sent: Thursday, May 26, 2011 5:23 AM
To: blindwebbers@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx; programmingblind; Program-l
Subject: Comparing fruit baskets in Flash, Silverlight, and native HTML
I have revised the Flex/Flash fruit basket program I previously did so that the
code is simpler, taking advantage of default accessibility behavior in the
Spark components of the Flex 4 framework. The code is in the file
FruitBasket.mxml within the archive http://EmpowermentZone.com/flex_fruit.zip
I also resolved Firefox compatibility issues, and added auto-detection of Flash
Player, with JavaScript to upgrade or install the latest Flash Player runtime
if not found. The Flex fruit basket app may be tried at
http://EmpowermentZone.com/flex_fruit.htm
Similarly, source code and a build batch file using command-line tools is
available for a Silverlight 4 fruit basket at
http://EmpowermentZone.com/sl_fruit.zip
and the app may be tried in a browser at http://EmpowermentZone.com/sl_fruit.htm
A few years ago, I did a fruit basket in native HTML 4 and JavaScript, which
may be tried at http://EmpowermentZone.com/js_fruit.htm
These are three different approaches to building rich Internet applications
(RIAs). Not surprisingly, if functionality can be achieved with native HTML
controls, it tends to be more accessible with screen readers. When
functionality requires custom JavaScript controls (AJAX widgets), however, or
controls from the Flash or Silver light plug-in, it is less clear which
approach will maximize accessibility and usability. I hope that these samples
help one compare approaches from either a developer or user standpoint.
I tested on Vista32 with JAWS 10 and above, the latest NVDA, and Window-Eyes
7.5, using either Internet Explorer 8 or Firefox 3.6. I found that all three
screen readers worked with each RIA approach in either web browser. JAWS and
NVDA did not recognize the Silverlight controls in virtual browse mode (a forms
or application mode needed to be toggled on). Those screen readers did
recognize the Flash controls, but JAWS required a refresh of its off screen
model (Insert+Escape) in order to do so. Window-Eyes, on the other hand,
recognized both the Flash and Silverlight controls in virtual browse mode and
without a screen refresh.
Others may experience different results, and you are invited to share your
comparisons. Please be specific about operating system, screen reader, and web
browser versions if yu do. Of course, other issues may arise with a more
complex app. It is my understanding that neither Orca on Linux nor VoiceOver
on the Mac currently support either Flash or Silverlight controls.
Jamal
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