-------------------- Start of forwarded message -------------------- X-From-Line: sentto-2825049-8343-1018449812-covici=ccs.covici.com at returns.groups.yahoo.com Wed Apr 10 10:43:42 2002 Received: from n19.grp.scd.yahoo.com (n19.grp.scd.yahoo.com [66.218.66.74]) by ccs.covici.com (8.12.1/8.12.1) with SMTP id g3AEhbq7023993 for <covici at ccs.covici.com>; Wed, 10 Apr 2002 10:43:38 -0400 X-eGroups-Return: sentto-2825049-8343-1018449812-covici=ccs.covici.com at returns.groups.yahoo.com Received: from [66.218.67.201] by n19.grp.scd.yahoo.com with NNFMP; 10 Apr 2002 14:43:31 -0000 X-Sender: lras at loc.gov X-Apparently-To: blindprogramming at yahoogroups.com Received: (EGP: mail-8_0_3_1); 10 Apr 2002 14:43:31 -0000 Received: (qmail 10353 invoked from network); 10 Apr 2002 14:35:15 -0000 Received: from unknown (66.218.66.216) by m9.grp.scd.yahoo.com with QMQP; 10 Apr 2002 14:35:15 -0000 Received: from unknown (HELO sun8.loc.gov) (140.147.249.48) by mta1.grp.scd.yahoo.com with SMTP; 10 Apr 2002 14:35:13 -0000 Received: from lras (lras.loc.gov [140.147.40.26]) by sun8.loc.gov (8.12.2/8.12.2) with SMTP id g3AEZ9gl025331; Wed, 10 Apr 2002 10:35:09 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <3.0.5.32.20020410103550.0083db50 at sun8.LOC.GOV> X-Sender: LRAS at sun8.LOC.GOV X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Light Version 3.0.5 (32) To: nfbcs at nfbnet.org, blindprogramming at yahoogroups.com X-eGroups-From: David Poehlman <poehlman1 at comcast.net> (by way of "Lloyd G. Rasmussen" <lras at loc.gov>) From: David Poehlman <lras@xxxxxxx> (by way of "Lloyd G. Rasmussen" <lras at loc.gov>) Mailing-List: list blindprogramming at yahoogroups.com; contact blindprogramming-owner at yahoogroups.com Delivered-To: mailing list blindprogramming at yahoogroups.com Precedence: bulk List-Unsubscribe: <mailto:blindprogramming-unsubscribe at yahoogroups.com> Date: Wed, 10 Apr 2002 10:35:50 -0400 Subject: it's coming:Fw: CSUN trip report - UNIX Accessibility series & Java stuff Reply-To: blindprogramming at yahoogroups.com Status: RO X-Status: Lines: 442 Xref: ccs.covici.com blindprogramming:13454 Long, but starting to bear fruit ... ----- Original Message ----- From: "Peter Korn" <korn@xxxxxxx> To: <JAVA-ACCESS at JAVA.SUN.COM> Sent: Wednesday, April 10, 2002 1:37 AM Subject: CSUN trip report - UNIX Accessibility series & Java stuff Greetings, Last month was the annual CSUN Conference on Technology and Persons with Disabilities. This year accessibility to computers running UNIX (such as the Solaris operating environment, GNU/Linux, and other computer systems) was a conference theme. There was a UNIX Accessibility series of conference sessions all day Thursday, and demonstrations of open source assistive technologies for UNIX systems in the Sun Microsystems booth on the show floor. This year also saw the second annual Linux Accessibility Conference, which was held on Friday in the LAX Hilton conference hotel. This lengthy trip report describes in some detail all of the events relating to UNIX Accessibility at CSUN, and touches on some events relating to Java Accessibility as well. The key messages relating to UNIX (and Java) Accessibility at CSUN were: 1. The development of a free, open source graphical desktop for UNIX systems called GNOME 2, with accessibility support built in as a forethought (vs. bolted on as an afterthought). GNOME 2 will be the future desktop of the Sun Solaris operating environment, and of numerous GNU/Linux systems. 2. The development of the free, open source GNU Accessibility architecture (also known as the GNOME Accessibility architecture), a comprehensive API-based mechanism for exposing accessibility information by applications to assistive technologies. 2. The development of Gnopernicus - a free, open source screen reader and magnifier for GNOME by BAUM Retec AG. Gnopernicus was demonstrated on an Intel RedHat Linux system, with both speech and Braille, at CSUN. Gnopernicus fully supports the GNU Accessibility architecture. 3. The development of GOK - a free, open source dynamic on-screen keyboard for GNOME by the University of Toronto Adaptive Technology Resource Centre. GOK was demonstrated on both a Sun Solaris system and an Intel RedHat Linux system, with both single switch access and support for the Madentec Tracker head-mouse. GOK fully supports the GNU Accessibility architecture. 4. Sun's announcement that StarOffice and the open source OpenOffice.org office productivity suite of applications (word processor, spreadsheet, presentation package, and drawing package - with full support for reading and writing Microsoft Office file formats) will become accessible with full support for the GNU Accessibility architecture, as well as support for accessibility under the Microsoft Windows desktop via the Java Access Bridge. Sun demonstrated an early version of StarOffice with (early) accessibility support, showing how the accessibility information was being made available via the Java Accessibility test tools. 5. Sun's announcement of the formation of the Sun Netscape/Mozilla Accessibility Task Force. This task force of Sun engineers is focused on building support for the GNU Accessibility architecture directly into the open source Mozilla web browser, to be released in a future version of Netscape for UNIX systems, and to also be available in applications that embed the Mozilla gecko HTML rendering engine in other applications (such as the Galeon GNOME web browser, and the Nautilus file and document browser). 6. Sun's release of FreeTTS - a free, open source text-to-speech engine and voices for the Java platform. Sun demonstrated FreeTTS on the Solaris operating environment - a UNIX platform - with emacspeak, the Emacs speech environment developed by T.V. Raman. Sun also provided information on how to download FreeTTS and get involved with the project. 7. Ai Squared's demonstration of support for access to the Java platform in the shipping ZoomText for Windows version 7.1. ZoomText was demonstrated providing access to the ICEMail free open source e-mail client for the Java platform. 8. Benetech's demonstration of Sonorus - a prototype Personal Accessor for the blind that is designed to provide wireless access to a new generation of things like ATM machines, vending machines, elevators, etc. The Sonorus prototype is a Compaq iPAQ running the SavaJe Java platform. Benetech demonstrated how a user with Sonorus could interact with an otherwise inaccessible vending machine to purchase soft drinks and candy. Below is a fairly detailed summary of each of the seven sessions relating to UNIX Accessibility (and Java accessibility), as well events at the 2nd Linux Accessibility conference. o The first session in the UNIX Accessibility series was the "UNIX Accessibility overview" by Dr. Gregg Vanderheiden of TRACE (and CSUN keynote speaker), J.P. Schnapper-Casteras of project Ocularis (and organizer of the 2nd Linux Accessibility Conference), and Marc Mulcahy, Rich Burridge, and Peter Korn of Sun Microsystems. In this session, Dr. Vanderheiden spoke of the importance of the UNIX Accessibility work, looking at the trends in society, trends in technology, and the fact that this work is defining the next set of accessibility standards in the industry. JP Schnapper-Casteras gave an overview of the present UNIX accessibility efforts, including work on the UNIX desktops, console-related work, tools, and the overall accessible use experience. Marc Mulcahy gave a demonstration of Speakup, the console screen reader that can be built into the GNU/Linux kernel that Marc uses every day as part of his work in building the GNU Accessibility architecture. Rich Burridge explained what the Sun Solaris Operating Environment was, and gave an overview of the accessibility options available today for it. Finally, Peter Korn presented Sun?s vision of UNIX Accessibility. Peter talked about Sun's long-held computing principle: "Anyone, Anywhere, Any time, Any device" - with "anyone" including people with disabilities, "any device" including talking and Braille notetakers as well as cell phones, PDAs, and desktop computers. Peter also spoke about the four big themes behind the UNIX Accessibility work: 1. Built-in vs. Bolt-on; 2. Evolution of screen access approaches; 3. Formal division of responsibility; and 4. Open source accessibility. These four themes were referred to again and again throughout the rest of the UNIX Accessibility series, and were also the topics of the panel discussion later in the afternoon. o The second session in the UNIX Accessibility series was titled "The Accessible GNOME 2 desktop: An Introduction." Gary Little and Peter Korn of Sun Microsystems gave this presentation. Gary Little gave a guided tour of the GNOME desktop - using the shipping GNOME 1.4 edition for his demonstrations. Gary showed features that will be familiar to existing Windows users - the "GNOME Foot" menu (like the Windows "Start" menu), the GNOME Panel (similar to the Windows System Tray). Gary also demonstrated features that will be new to many users and provide functionality not available on existing PC systems - the ability to have multiple "desktop" workspaces, that applications on the GNOME panel are live and can be manipulated directly (rather than just icon-based menu items), the powerful theme engine in GNOME that does a lot more than simply change the colors and sizes of the standard user interface elements, and some of the powerful built-in applications of the network-based GNOME desktop (such as the Weather application, which gives weather forecasts and satellite weather animations for locations worldwide). Peter Korn then spent a few minutes talking about the new accessibility features in the forthcoming GNOME 2 platform. He briefly demonstrated Gnopernicus and GOK - the two free, open source assistive technologies being developed for GNOME. And he demonstrated Sun's SunRay network appliance, an inexpensive network terminal that displays a GNOME desktop (or other Solaris session) that is generated on a central Sun server - and can be redirected to any SunRay terminal on the network. Using this network terminal in an accessibility setting, a user need not use a specially modified workstation (as is presently typically the case with PCs), but can walk up to any SunRay appliance, insert his or her smart card, and have delivered an accessible GNOME desktop session with whatever assistive technologies are needed. Then, when the user moves to a different room, s/he simply removes the card and inserts it into a new SunRay appliance in the new room, and the accessible GNOME desktop session is redirected to the new SunRay. o The third session in the UNIX Accessibility series, "Gnopernicus: Screen Reading & Magnification for GNOME", was a presented by Thomas Friehoff of BAUM Retec AG. Thomas talked about BAUM and the work they do, and also discussed why they were investing in the GNOME platform and building an open source screen reader/magnifier. Thomas talked about BAUM's frustrations with the current situation of blind desktop accessibility - with Windows dominating the market and little room for competition in the Windows AT marketplace. BAUM and their customers are interested in alternatives. Thomas noted that much of the business for blind access in Germany is a service business - with companies like BAUM providing much of the value through customization of the accommodation. Thomas also noted at BAUM that software sales drive hardware sales (BAUM is a major manufacturer of Braille displays). Also important in Germany is the growing interest in the GNU/Linux environment, with the German parliament standardizing on GNU/Linux for all of their desktop computer systems. Finally, the software development team at BAUM wanted to do something different for a change, and found a lot of promise and possibilities in the open source model and the GNOME Accessibility architecture. Thomas presented in some depth the architecture of Gnopernicus, noting how Gnopernicus has three separate output modules (for speech, Braille, and magnification), and that each bit of information output to the user is sent as a marked up stream encoding all of the pertinent information about that output - allowing for maximum flexibility in how it is presented to the user (e.g. speech emphasis for text in boldface; using dot-7 to indicate text in a button). Because Gnopernicus is an open source project made up of a series of separate modules, other companies and organizations could take these modules and put together their own assistive technology products, with potentially very different user interfaces. Thomas ended the presentation with a demonstration of Gnopernicus running on an early version of the GNOME 2 desktop - with access to the GNOME 2 panel, calculator, Gedit text editor, and a few other applications. The home page for the Gnopernicus project is: http://developer.gnome.org/projects/gap/AT/Gnopernicus/ o The fourth session in the UNIX Accessibility series was a presentation from Jutta Treviranus and Simon Bates of the University of Toronto Assistive Technology Resource Centre titled "GOK: a full featured on-screen keyboard for GNOME." Jutta and Simon demonstrated a number of the features of the free and open source GOK on-screen keyboard, and also showed how GOK provided access to Glade, a GNOME development tool for building graphical applications. They showed the scanning and direct selection features, as well as word completion and the ability of GOK to dynamically display menu and sub-menus. They also demonstrated how GOK presents new dynamically created keyboards as the frontmost application changes, illustrating this with their dynamic menu keyboard which provided direct and scanning access to menus and menu bars. The University of Toronto Assistive Technology Resource Centre does a lot of research, and is using GOK as a vehicle for exploring ideas for improving the efficiency and user experience of computer users with physical impairments. To that end, Jutta presented some of the more unusual on-screen keyboard layouts they are thinking about. Finally, Jutta talked about their focus on clinicians, and on their plans for making GOK a very flexible and configurable tool to allow clinicians to adapt GOK to the specific capabilities and motor functions of each individual user. Jutta and Simon's presentation can be found at: http://www.gok.ca/csun2002/ The GOK home page is at: http://www.gok.ca/ o After a break for lunch, Bill Haneman and Marc Mulcahy of Sun Microsystems presented the fifth session in the UNIX Accessibility series : "The GNOME Accessibility architecture in detail". Bill and Marc are two of Sun's GNOME Accessibility engineers, and this "from the source" presentation went into detail on the GNU Accessibility architecture. The presentation provided two view of the architecture - the services provided to the writers of accessible applications, and the services provided to authors of assistive technologies. Their presentation can be found at: http://developer.gnome.org/projects/gap/presentations/CSUN-02/a-start.ht ml o The sixth session in the UNIX Accessibility series wasn't a presentation per se, but a panel discussion on various topics relating to UNIX Accessibility. Making up the panel were: J.P. Schnapper-Casteras of project Ocularis and the Linux Accessibility Resource Site maintainer; Jutta Treviranus of the Adaptive Technology Resource Centre at the University of Toronto; Thomas Friehoff of BAUM Retec AG; GNOME Accessibility engineers Bill Haneman and Marc Mulcahy of Sun Microsystems; and Peter Korn of Sun Microsystems acting as panel moderator. The panel revisited the four themes of Sun's UNIX Accessibility work: 1. Built-in vs. Bolt-on; 2. Evolution of screen access approaches; 3. Formal division of responsibility; and 4. Open source accessibility. The panel also responded to questions from the audience. o The seventh and final session in the UNIX Accessibility series was really a Java Accessibility session. This "Topics in Java Accessibility" session began with a presentation from Willie Walker of Sun Microsystems Labs on FreeTTS, a free, open source text-to-speech engine his team made available for the Java platform. FreeTTS is based on Flite (Festival Light) itself a free, open source text-to-speech engine developed by Carnegie Mellon University. FreeTTS can be downloaded from http://freetts.sourceforge.net/. Next, Mark Nelson of Ai Squared demonstrated the shipping ZoomText Xtra version 7.1 providing access to the Java platform. Mark pointed out that now screen magnifier and screen reader users of ZoomText would have access to the thousands of Java applications that supported the Java Accessibility architecture, including over 250 Oracle Java applications that are part of Oracle 9i. Lynn Monsanto of Sun Microsystems then gave an update on accessibility in the Java platform and the Java Access Bridge, and presented Mark Nelson with a surprise when he showed ZoomText Xtra providing access to ICEMail, a popular and free e-mail client for the Java platform that Lynn had downloaded earlier in the week from the Internet. Peter Korn of Sun Microsystems gave a presentation on StarOffice - Sun's cross platform, comprehensive office productivity suite that can read and write Microsoft Office file formats, noting a Windows 2000 Magazine poll concluding that 15% of respondents used StarOffice Suite as part of their jobs. Peter noted that most of the functionality of StarOffice is available in the free, open source OpenOffice.org edition of the code, and that both StarOffice and OpenOffice.org would be accessible in the future. He then gave a demonstration of programmatic access to StarOffice - showing how the Java Accessibility test tools were able to build a complete hierarchy of the StarOffice user interface, and querying individual objects in that hierarchy showing the text he had entered into the word processor. The StarOffice/OpenOffice.org accessibility web site is: http://ui.openoffice.org/accessibility/ Finally, Jim Fructerman and Charles LaPierre of the Benetech Initiative, along with Peter Korn, introduced the Personal Accessor Initiative and Sonorus - Benetech's Personal Accessor work on the Compaq iPAQ outfitted with the SavaJe Java platform. The idea behind the Personal Accessor is that the problem of access to public systems (like ATM machines, copiers, elevators, etc.) can be broken down into two parts with one part in the public system and the other carried by the user. Especially in those cases where the user needs accommodation that may be near impossible to build into the public system - such as Braille, eye-gaze, voice recognition, etc. - wireless access to systems that transmit their user interface to a device the user carries with them is a powerful and potentially inexpensive access solution. Using Java and Jini technologies, a wirelessly accessible system can transmit a program that implements a remote version of the system, and an accessible user interface to that system, which would then be run on the Personal Accessor carried by the user (regardless of the microprocessor running the device or its underlying computing architecture). This approach addresses issues of security of the wireless connection because the transmitted program can contain an encryption scheme of whatever strength the public system chooses to implement, and users need not worry about receiving a virus sent from a system they encounter because of the security model of the Java virtual machine in which the downloaded program would run. An additional benefit is that the Personal Accessors need have no foreknowledge of the systems their users might want to interact with, as all the functionality of any new system is downloaded the moment they try to interact with it. Charles LaPierre demonstrated Sonorus interacting with a simulated food vending machine and also a soda machine, downloading a remote interface to those simulated machines and providing the user with a downloaded speech interface which the user navigated using the buttons on the iPAQ - with speech provided by the aforementioned FreeTTS engine. Charles choose a $0.60 can of Sprite, with his choice sent wirelessly to the vending machine server on the desk in front of him. o The Second Annual Linux Accessibility Conference was a forum for more in-depth Linux accessibility community's direction. Presentations were given on subjects such accessibility checklists and guides for application developers, modifying the Linux kernel to speech-enable console applications, and Linux accessibility in the United States government. Among the most prominent parts of the conference was a roundtable on interoperability and collaboration, which lead to the formation of lengthy and detailed list of "to-do" items. Notes from the Second Annual Linux Accessibility Conference can be found at: http://ocularis.sourceforge.net/events/csun2002/notes.html Detailed information about the GNOME Accessibility Project can be found at the main page for the GNOME Accessibility Project. See: http://developer.gnome.org/projects/gap/ Regards, Peter Korn Sun Accessibility team ======================================================================== === To unsubscribe, send email to listserv at java.sun.com and include in the body of the message "signoff JAVA-ACCESS". For general help, send email to listserv at java.sun.com and include in the body of the message "help". ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~--> HOT! PRICE BREAKTHROUGH! SUPER Tiny Wireless Video Camera UNDER $80 BUCKS --> ORDER NOW! http://us.click.yahoo.com/y7toOC/8o6DAA/yigFAA/saFolB/TM ---------------------------------------------------------------------~-> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Visit the BlindProgramming site at: http://www.BlindProgramming.com To post messages to the list: blindprogramming at YahooGroups.com Unsubscribe: blindprogramming-unsubscribe at YahooGroups.com Digest mode: blindprogramming-digest at YahooGroups.com Individual mode: blindprogramming-normal at YahooGroups.com Message delivery on hold: blindprogramming-nomail at YahooGroups.com Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ -------------------- End of forwarded message -------------------- -- John Covici covici at ccs.covici.com
