Sun's accessibility strategy for the Solaris OS is designed to meet the
requirements of Section 508 of the U.S. Rehabilitation Act. According to this
statute, federal agencies are required to acquire, information and/or electronic
technology, documentation, support, and services that allow comparable access
for employees and members of the public with disabilities.
Sun plans the following activities to integrate accessibility into all levels of
the Solaris Operating System:
Deliver the GNOME 2.0 Desktop with built-in accessibility solutions as the next
user environment for the Solaris OE. GNOME 2.0 provides an accessible desktop,
applications, utilities, and accessories, as well as assistive technologies that
adapt to the needs of users with disabilities.
Provide an accessible Web browser and office productivity suite
Enable the entire system management software stack (Sun Cluster, Solaris
Resource Manager, Sun Management Center software, etc.) for accessibility
Provide assistive technologies for the visually, hearing, and physically
impaired users
Enable Java technology-based accessible applications to interface with the
assistive technologies provided with the GNOME 2.0 desktop
Accessible solutions help millions of people worldwide who have visual,
physical, and hearing disabilities to gain the same benefits of technology that
people without disabilities currently have today. They include the software and
technologies that enable users with disabilities to interface, access, obtain,
and communicate information using a desktop computer.
There are several core features in Solaris today that support the needs of
people with visual and mobility impairments:
Emacspeak, a popular, open source screen reader that allows visually impaired
users to independently and efficiently interact with the computer. Since the
application was designed by a blind engineer, its interface was designed with
special insight into the requirements of the visually impaired. Emacspeak gives
blind and low vision users a way to get voice output from some of the desktop
applications running on the Solaris platform. Working in conjunction with the
Emacs display editor, Emacspeak provides spoken access to more than 21
applications, including a real-time display editor, mail client, news reader,
word processor, and integrated development environment. Emacs version 20.7 is
shipped on a companion CD with the Solaris Operating Environment media kit.
Emacs/W3 Browser is a Web browser, when used in conjunction with Emacspeak,
gives users spoken access to Web pages. Users can use the browser from within
Emacs , giving them greater control and access to information.
UnWindows is a set of tools designed to assist low vision users of X Windows in
selectively magnifying areas of the screen so that the contents can be seen
comfortably, and keeping track of the location of the mouse pointer through
audible and visual cues.
FreeTTS is an open source text-to-speech application written entirely in the
Java programming language. This high-performance software, written by the
development engineers within SunLabs, converts text to speech from any screen
reader (such as Emacspeak), providing voice output to any accessible application
through the computer's speaker system. FreeTTS includes a server for Emacspeak
to make interaction with the Emacs editor easier.
Sun's desktop accessibility strategy is built on GNOME 2.0 for the Solaris OS.
GNOME's built-inaccessibility architecture and assistive technology solutions
provide the infrastructure needed for people with disabilities to easily and
quickly gain the benefits of using desktop computing technology.
No. CDE/Motif applications running on the GNOME 2.0 desktop are not accessible.
The CDE/Motif applications do not interface with GNOME's assistive technologies.
However, users may use Emacspeak with their CDE/Motif applications.
GNOME On-screen Keyboard (GOK) - Provides users with physical disabilities a
variety of ways to enter text and manipulate the graphical user interface of
applications and of the GNOME desktop. In addition, solutions without a
keyboard, such as touch-screen kiosks, can take advantage of the on-screen
keyboard. GOK goes beyond the standard physical keyboard - it supports word
prediction, scanning access, coded access, and customizable keyboard layouts.
Dynamic keyboard functionality conveniently places menu bar options and other
application elements onto the keyboard display for direct manipulation.
Screen Magnifier - Enables users with low vision to enlarge the computer screen
and interact with the magnified portion of the screen they are viewing, such as
menus, toolbars, graphics, and text.
Screen Reader - Allows users who are blind or visually impaired to access
information on the computer screen through a Braille display or synthesized
speech. With the screen reader, users can read and edit text; manipulate menu
bars, buttons, and dialog boxes; and fully interact with the GNOME desktop.
FreeTTS - This text to speech synthesizer works in conjunction with the Screen
Reader.
Users with disabilities - Users can run accessible applications and assistive
technologies on all GNOME-enabled Linux or UNIX? platforms
Developers - Easy-to-use, simplified design for creating accessible applications
that interface with assistive technologies
IT Organizations - built-in accessible software and assistive technology
lowers the high cost of special software. Users with disabilities get an integrated solution
Business - Lower total cost of ownership and larger talent pool. Users with
disabilities may use any Linux or UNIX platform running GNOME 2.0 accessible
desktop
Please refer to the accessibility architecture diagram for an
overview of the GNOME accessibility architecture. Here are the highlights:
An Accessibility Toolkit Application Programming Interface (ATK API) and
associated implementation library integrate with GTK+ 2.0 (GNOME's user
interface toolkit) to provide built-in accessibility support, enabling
developers using GTK+ widgets to easily create accessible applications.
An Assistive Technology Service Provider Interface (AT-SPI) enables developers
to interface technologies such as screen readers, screen magnifiers, voice
technologies, Braille devices, and alternative pointing technologies with GNOME
accessible applications on any GNOME 2.0-enabled Linux or UNIX platform.
Bridges the provide the software for transparently connecting accessible
applications to assistive technologies.
Yes, you can participate in Sun's Beta testing program for GNOME developers. If
you are interested, please e-mail Gary Little, Sun's Product Line Manager, GNOME
for Developers, at gary.little@sun.com.
Sun's GNOME engineering team and GNOME community maintainers support the GNOME
Accessibility Project.
Sun provides support to selected participants in the GNOME Beta accessibility
program
Sun plans to offer technical support options through the Solaris Developer
Connection when the GNOME 2.0 general release becomes available. Please
visit http://developers.sun.com/prodtech/solaris/ for more information.
