Re: [Bodington-developers] senda stuff and vles

[Brian P. C. <bm...@bm...>]

> hi, we got hold of an older report on senda, and i grokked it with a mind
> to bod. if you are mildly interested:
> 
> 
> http://www.weblogs.uhi.ac.uk/sm00sm/?p=192
> 
> s

I think the blog is a tad hard on applets, which are accessible if you do them 
right.  The font size won't increase when the browser font is increased but you 
have complete control over all the swing fonts in the buttons and menus. You'd 
just have to give components room to grow a bit because the last time I looked 
applets didn't dynamically re-size.

In fact, I suspect that a very clever person could link up applet fonts with the 
browser setting using javascript to capture a keypress event then passing this 
to the applet.  

There might be an issue here with the clients for the forthcoming bods 
messaging application.  I would also suspect that there might be a case for 
writing a special applet or application that would provide a reet royal dose of 
accessibility.

Some of the clients will have you ferreting down a layer or two to find how to 
change font characteristics, and I'm sure some will only change the size of the 
messaging texts and not the interface text.

An accessibility audit of im client software - that's what's needed. (By someone 
else..who isn't me.)

eg

http://www.webaim.org/techniques/articles/chats (sept 2004)

Despite the wide-spread use of chat programs, few are fully accessible to 
those with disabilities. Though the situation is not satisfactory at this time, 
most chat interfaces could easily be made accessible with a few 
modifications and design changes. If you are designing, implementing, or 
looking for a chat program, these are a few questions to ask:
1. Is the interface accessible through the keyboard only?
2. Does the program work with common screen readers?
3. Can the user control the scrolling and/or refreshing of messages?
4. Does sound alone convey important information?
5. Are the controls easy to use and clear?
6. If Java is being used, is it designed to work with Jaws and other screen 
readers? 
To learn more about accessible chats and other accessibility tips, please visit 
the {HYPERLINK "/"}webaim.org site or {HYPERLINK "/contact/contact.php?person=jared"}contact the author.


Regards,

Brian
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