Next Generation Screen Reader
About a year ago, many people got excited about a project for an open source screen reader for Windows Vista. I was one of them. However, the project seems to have disappeared. I hope to revive that flame and help get the ball rolling again.
A side note: The open source screen reader could also run on Windows XP and Windows Server 2003.
I have created a few technology demos to test the accessibility technology that is built into Vista. The technology is called User Interface Automation (UIA) and it is awesome. It replaces MSAA which is the current accessibility technology. The UIA provides a standard interface for all applications.
Currently, a screen reader must work differently with a program depending on what programming framework it uses. If the program was written in Java it will work differently than if it were written in C++. Also, there are sometimes multiple user interface frameworks used by the same language. This makes the job of a screen reader very difficult and because of that, some programs are simply not accessible or require additional work to make them accessible.
The UIA is a solution to the problem. Instead of a screen reader trying to get its accessible information directly from each application, it can get the information from the UIA. Therefore, the screen reader can treat every application the same.
What Does This Mean for a Blind User?
For a person who uses a screen reader this means that the screen reader will work with every program in a consistent manner. For example: A button or link on a web page will work the same as a button on a program written in Java, a C++ button, a C# button, etc. A button is simply something that the user can click and the UIA makes all buttons work the same way.
Finally, blind users will be able to have a consistent feel to the user interface. They won't have to learn how to use the screen reader with every new application they try. A sighted user can figure out how to use a new application because it looks the same as what they have already learned. But often even when applications look the same, the screen reader does not work with it the same way. Therefore, the UIA will help make the user experience enjoyable.
I believe the time has come for a new breed of screen readers. Why should a blind user require training in order to use a screen reader even when they are already familiar with computers? Why should a screen reader require the user to learn 100+ shortcuts in order to function? The time has come for a screen reader that makes the user experience enjoyable. I believe we can create it and that is what we will do.
A side note: The open source screen reader could also run on Windows XP and Windows Server 2003.
I have created a few technology demos to test the accessibility technology that is built into Vista. The technology is called User Interface Automation (UIA) and it is awesome. It replaces MSAA which is the current accessibility technology. The UIA provides a standard interface for all applications.
Currently, a screen reader must work differently with a program depending on what programming framework it uses. If the program was written in Java it will work differently than if it were written in C++. Also, there are sometimes multiple user interface frameworks used by the same language. This makes the job of a screen reader very difficult and because of that, some programs are simply not accessible or require additional work to make them accessible.
The UIA is a solution to the problem. Instead of a screen reader trying to get its accessible information directly from each application, it can get the information from the UIA. Therefore, the screen reader can treat every application the same.
What Does This Mean for a Blind User?
For a person who uses a screen reader this means that the screen reader will work with every program in a consistent manner. For example: A button or link on a web page will work the same as a button on a program written in Java, a C++ button, a C# button, etc. A button is simply something that the user can click and the UIA makes all buttons work the same way.
Finally, blind users will be able to have a consistent feel to the user interface. They won't have to learn how to use the screen reader with every new application they try. A sighted user can figure out how to use a new application because it looks the same as what they have already learned. But often even when applications look the same, the screen reader does not work with it the same way. Therefore, the UIA will help make the user experience enjoyable.
I believe the time has come for a new breed of screen readers. Why should a blind user require training in order to use a screen reader even when they are already familiar with computers? Why should a screen reader require the user to learn 100+ shortcuts in order to function? The time has come for a screen reader that makes the user experience enjoyable. I believe we can create it and that is what we will do.
posted by Rick at 12:42 PM
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