IAccessible2

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IAccessible2 is a new accessibility API for Microsoft Windows applications. Initially developed by IBM under the codename Project Missouri,[1] IAccessible2 has been placed under the aegis of the Free Standards Group, now part of the Linux Foundation.[2] It has been positioned as an alternative to Microsoft's new UI Automation API.

While UI Automation is trumpeted as "royalty-free",[3] IAccessible2 claims to be an "open standard".

Contents

[edit] Goals

Whereas UI Automation marks a radical break from Microsoft Active Accessibility (MSAA) to create a more flexible accessibility API, IAccessible2 fills in perceived omissions in MSAA to match the Java Accessibility API and Assistive Technology Service Provider Interface (AT-SPI).[4]

Project Missouri was started when the State of Massachusetts, in the process of adopting the OpenDocument format for its public records, required that the format be made accessible.[5] Increasing the accessibility of dynamic web applications, for example by exposing custom controls for use with assistive technology and by filtering streams of new information by type and importance, became a second major focus for the project.[6]

[edit] Support

Currently, support for IAccessible is in development for applications such as the Mozilla Application Suite [7] and NonVisual Desktop Access.[8] Although IAccessible2 was introduced as a Windows accessibility API, Trolltech are treating IAccessible2 as a potential alternative to AT-SPI on Linux too, and planning to add preliminary support to QT 4.3.[9]

[edit] References

  1. ^ ConsortiumInfo.org "Showing the Accessibility Way: IBM Contributes Project Missouri to the Free Standards Group"
  2. ^ Linux Foundation Press Release: "The Free Standards Group to Standardize New Accessibility Interfaces" (2006-12-14). Accessed 2007-02-06.
  3. ^ Microsoft.com: "Microsoft's New Accessibility Model To Be Offered as Cross-Platform Solution for Industry". Accessed 2007-02-06.
  4. ^ Peter Korn's Weblog: Completing the Windows accessibility picture - IAccessible2 (2006-11-13). Accessed 2007-02-06.
  5. ^ Schwerdtfeger, Rich (2006-12-14). "Project Missouri and IBM's donation of IAccessible2 to the Free Standards Group". Retrieved on February 6, 2007.
  6. ^ Bergstein, Brian. ""Project Missouri and IBM's donation of IAccessible2 to the Free Standards Group"", USA Today, 2006-12-14. Retrieved on February 6, 2007.
  7. ^ Mozilla Bugzilla: Bug 368873 – Support IAccessible2 API. Accessed 2007-02-06.
  8. ^ Michael Curran, "Introducing IAccessible2", NVDA mailing list (2006-12-16), accessed 2007-02-06.
  9. ^ Harald Fernengel, IAccessible2 on Linux Demo (2007-01-26), accessed 2007-02-07.

[edit] External links

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