[jawsscripts] Accessibility, Usability and Scripting

  • From: "Kamil" <kamilimak@xxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <jawsscripts@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Mon, 1 Oct 2007 22:27:04 -0400

Hi folks,

I would like to know your take on a subject which raises hot debats in my 
workplace and that is how much scripting is really necessary for an application.

Based on this business standards, application accessibility means the existance 
of methods for getting the information on the screen and interact with it. 

It doesn't take into account, the time it takes to reach to a specific piece of 
information and the needed energy to filter the unwanted announcements.

The JAWS cursor is not only, not assumed the last resort, but also is assumed 
to be used, as the main tool for static information retrieval, according to 
this standard.

This way, other than applications with graphic components without alternative 
text, the rest can be catagorized accessible since by using JAWS cursor 
eventually one can get to any place and if direct keyboard interaction is not 
possible then keyboard equivalents of mouse clicks can be utilized.

The rest falls in the realm of usability.

The business believes that it's responsible to provide accessibility as defined 
above and anything beyond that is just icing on the cake.

My approach to this subject, is to see the big picture. Taking into account all 
the stress, frustration and the time that is getting wasted navigating a not 
properly laid out screen together with filtering unwanted audio data.

This way not only total accessibilty should be provided but a highly usable 
interface is the winning card.

What I mean by highly usable interface, is a kind of intelligent interface for 
the application which provides such facilities as:
Instant anouncement of the value of each field by typing the very first letters 
of its label
Automatic announcement of live data when they change
Availability of hotkeys to activate major tasks 
Suppressing extra announcements

I highly appreciate your input.

Thanks,

Kamil

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