URL: http://www.javasoft.com/features/2000/07/access.html
The JavaTM Accessibility API is enabling folks with disabilities to
function in ways hitherto unheard of. And it's the launchpad for
technology that is bringing new functionality to a wider population of
non-disabled users.
by John Bacon
Accessibility Duke
Earl Johnson says that two of the greatest things ever to happen to
him are the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 and the
JavaTM Accessibility API (Application Program Interface). This summer,
sponsors and backers of the disabilities act are celebrating its 10th
anniversary. The wide-ranging legislation, signed into law July 26,
1990, was designed to make it easier for people with disabilities to
function more effectively in society. More than making sidewalk curb
cuts and ramps, the legislation helped set off a scramble for
accessibility to devices ranging from computers to light switches.
"The ADA is really what brought me to Sun nine years ago," says
Johnson, a quadriplegic since a bike accident 13 years ago, and
founder of the Enabling Technologies Project and Sun Accessibility
Team. "The company wanted to know where it stood on meeting the needs
of its employees. We found out that not only did we have trouble
meeting the needs of our own employees, but we had trouble helping our
customers meet the needs of their employees."
Sun Takes the Lead on Enabling Technologies
Earl Johnson
Earl Johnson, founder, Sun Accessibility Team
Johnson, who gives credit to Sun for its support of the Enabling
Technologies Project, which he started in 1991 as the forerunner of
the Sun Accessibility Team, lauds Sun's leadership in enabling product
developers to design accessible products. By starting with research in
the lab, Johnson says he was "allowed to fail, to learn from my
mistakes and press on without negatively impacting the company." His
work with the X Windowing System resulted in Mercator, a screen reader
prototype, and Access X Keyboard enhancements such as StickyKeys and
MouseKeys, which provided a springboard for accessible technologies
within the Java platform. Now Java technology has made it easier for
product developers to incorporate speech controls, and mouse-only or
key-only keyboards into the work stations and home lives of people
with disabilities.
Celebrating The 10th Anniversary of Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA)
Members of the Sun Accessiblity team demonstrated their latest
technologies at events in Washington, D.C, to mark the 10th
anniversary of the ADA.
The technology demonstration, which showed how people with visual or
mobility impairments could manipulate networked home and office
appliances with the help of speech and Braille output and voice
recognition software, was built using the JavaTM platform and JiniTM
technology. Sun's participation in this celebration underscored its
longstanding support of disability rights. In January of 1999, Sun's
contributions to the cause of accessiblity earned it a Disability
Rights Advocates Award.
The Java Accessibility API Means No More Retrofitting
For Johnson, the biggest advantages have been speech and Access X
capabilities. And, he says, he is "setting myself up" to take
advantage of new products. Before the invention of the Java platform
in the mid-1990s, Johnson spent long hours arduously retrofitting
accessibility into systems that were not built for it. But the Java
platform led to the Java Accessibility API, bringing a "clean slate"
to the accessibility effort. Accessibility could be easily built into
every project.
Spectacular Stuff at the 2000 JavaOneSM Conference
Peter Korn
Peter Korn, Sun's assistive technology architect
Some of the most "spectacular stuff" was presented in the
demonstration at the 2000 JavaOneSM Conference by Johnson and Peter
Korn, Sun's assistive technology architect. Johnson proudly kicked
things off by welcoming the crowd to his "vacation home." Using a
laptop with a speech user interface, Johnson deftly closed a shade,
turned on a heater and turned off a light.
"I don't have finger control, so manipulating things like that would
be difficult for me," Johnson says. "The Java platform and Jini
technology give me the ability to control these devices." Korn said
that accessible successes are possible because the Jini connection
technology provides the ability to present devices in software as
services, such as using a fan, and then attach multiple user
interfaces to the services.
Johnson used a speech-controlled laptop for the demonstration. But a
Braille laptop also was shown. Its "screen" is actually an array of
small Braille cells, each with six moving pins along the bottom of the
keyboard. Korn explained that the keyboard runs the Java platform and
a screen-reading assistance technology. It allows access to common
desktop applications, relaying information in speech or Braille.
Facts And Figures
* The Federal government spends $26.4 billion annually on electronic
and information technology.
* Section 508 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act bars the Federal
government from purchasing any information technology that is not
fully accessible. This goes into effect in August 2000.
* The Americans With Disabilities Act mandates accessibility in the
private sector.
* The Telecommunications Act applies to accessibility in technology
utilizing the telecommunications infrastructure.
* Local government and educational markets are increasingly
strengthening procurement requirements to include accessibility.
* 54 million Americans have a disability.
* 7.5% of Federal employees are people with disabilities.
* 8% of those using the Web have significant disabilities.
* 53% of Americans over 65 have a disability.
Accessible Technologies in the Marketplace
American Management Systems is taking the lead in enhancing
accessibility.
The Universal Design Philosophy
These different interfaces can even be developed to allow
communications through chat rooms. Thus Johnson's speech
communications could be fed in, then translated out as Braille, and
vice versa. Johnson credits the development of the Universal Design
philosophy as helping focus the accessibility effort. Universal Design
is the development of products, solutions or services based on an
understanding of the abilities of all people who might use them. This
results in designs that allow as many people as possible to use the
products. More and more, user interfaces are being designed so anyone
can use them. And because of the emerging technology, contemporary
designs can provide wireless access to the product.
So a fan can be turned on with a speech user interface or with a
Braille keyboard. "That's the beauty of this," Johnson said. "We can
all interact with the same service, and choose the device or personal
accessor (anything from a cell phone to a laptop) that we want to
interact with that service. All because of the power that the
combination of Jini technology and the Java platform gives us."
Johnson and Korn noted that the technology can be applied to
applications such as operating an elevator or even an ATM machine.
Johnson cannot work an ATM alone, so using one involves revealing his
pin number to someone, perhaps even a stranger, which raises security
issues. "Remote capabilities allow me to do the same transactions as
anyone else," he points out.
Johnson remarks that the Java platform, along with Jini technology,
make it easy for developers to focus on accessibility for all possible
users of their products: "We provide the tools that make it possible
for developers to make evaluations without needing to be accessibility
experts."
Manipulating Ships and Planes
The 2000 JavaOne conference demonstration provided a glimpse of
similar technologies being built into a Navy computer system in the
works for 2008. Sun architects are working with Navy engineers on a
system for the manipulation of ships, planes and other equipment and
manpower via computer from a central location. So the technology that
enables the disabled can be carried over to new uses for those without
physical disabilities.
"It's the curb-cut phenomenon," said John Gage, the director of the
Sun science office who emceed the demonstration. "When you curb cut so
someone can roll a wheelchair, it helps every parent with a baby
carriage." Gage applauded the accessibility effort and noted that,
"Every time we design, we should think of enhancing, blending
modalities of interaction. The more the better."
New Accessibility Products Are on the Way
Johnson noted that the public, more and more, seeks flexible
technology. People want to get stock quotes, send e-mail, turn down
the stereo and obtain information on any subject at any time from
anywhere with one personal source of access. With each day, his
"vacation home" demonstration comes closer to reality.
"The things that people with disabilities have been wanting so badly
for nearly a generation finally are being sought by everyone," Johnson
said. "And products based on the technology are coming. As you can see
from the demonstration, a lot of them are already here."
See Also
ADA Home Page
(http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/adahom1.htm)
Americans With Disabilities Act
(http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/statute.html)
The Access Board
(http://www.access-board.gov/)
Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI)
(http://www.w3.org/WAI/)
AMERICAN DISABLED for ATTENDANT PROGRAMS TODAY ADAPT
(http://www.adapt.org/)
The Spirit of ADA Campaign
(http://www.spiritofada.org/)
VICUG-L is the Visually Impaired Computer User Group List.
To join or leave the list, send a message to
[log in to unmask] In the body of the message, simply type
"subscribe vicug-l" or "unsubscribe vicug-l" without the quotations.
VICUG-L is archived on the World Wide Web at
http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/vicug-l.html
|
