Hi Listers,
I have quoted a section from the Geek Speak intro below, underneath
I have added my comments and questions, I freely admit I'm not a
programmer, but I have been a computer technician for more than 20
years, I consider I have enough experience to make a valid comment.
Insert follows.
On Wed, 15 Dec 1999, Development Manager wrote:
> HJ GeekSpeak
> December 15, 1999
> Programs written with Java 1.2 display no actual text on the screen. All
> text, controls and other information displayed in these programs are
> rendered as a graphic. The traditional JAWS cursor cannot be used with these
> applications. To provide the information to JFW users, we have introduced a
> new virtual cursor. The user can employ this Virtual Java Cursor to roam
> around the application window but will hear the information in a logical,
> rather than spatial manner. The Virtual Java Cursor gives access to all
> elements in a Java program and the actual mouse cursor, drawn on the screen,
> will move to the location being read by the Virtual Java Cursor.
>
> Henter-Joyce is committed to providing increased accessibility to new
> technologies as they emerge. The support for the Java Accessibility Bridge
> is yet another in the series of exciting new products delivered by JAWS for
> Windows.
End of quoted section.
First a comment on the current Virtual Cursor, my wife's Jaws version
is 3.2, so we do not have first hand experience with the current
Virtual Cursor, however reading from this list and others it's simply
not working as described and advertised.
Next the Java cursor, you will note from the quoted section that this
Java cursor is supposed to read graphic images, this appears to assume
each graphic will be "tagged" with a text description, while the
standard may call for a text description programmers are notorious
for ignoring standards.
Next point, Java is the current "hot" programming tool, as such it is
used extensively in internet applications, Jaws as a program for
accessing the net is failing to deliver what the users want, this
can be seen from the number of requests from people to visit sites
that are difficult to access or are unreadable, the fault is not
entirely with Jaws, there are many ways to program net sites, the
HTML standard is about a loose as the description of "meat" in a
supermarket pie.
Above all else, JAWS should address the issues which have plagued
it's users since the introduction to the Windows 9.x, rather than
following the micro-slop ideal of packageing software and letting
the users sort out the bugs.
I note with interest that the introduction of of all of this
"wizardry" is slated for version 3.5, now allowing for my lateral
method of thinking, you get two "free" upgrades, after paying
for them, ( like the extras table in health insurance,) anyone
wish to place bets that there will be two upgrades between now
and the release of 3.5. Yup, you guessed it, the users will be
paying for another "bug fix".
Now if they can describe the functions and working premise of the
Java cursor it must already be in the Alpha testing phase, I
suggest all those who are currently turning off their
Virtual cursor because it fails to function demand a free
upgrade path to the new Java cursor. Assuming it works as advertised.
Regards Jeff
-
Visit the jfw ml web page: http://jfw.cjb.net
