| # Accessibility ### New Features in the JavaTM 2 Platform, v1.4 | Java Accessibility

> The features described here were introduced in the Java 2 Platform, v1.4.0. These features are also part of subsequent releases of the Java 2 Platform.

> ### Contents

> > AccessibleExtendedComponent.getAccessibleKeyBinding
> > AccessibleRole New Constants
> > Accessibility Support for HTML Object Tags
> > Support for Tracking HTMLEditorKit Keyboard Link Traversal
> > Assistive Technologies Property
> > Screen Reader Property
> > API Enhancements
> > AccessibleEditableText
> > AccessibleExtendedComponent
> > AccessibleExtendedTable
> > AccessibleKeyBinding
> > Mnemonic Tab Navigation
> > List Navigation by First Letter
> > Accessibility Support for HTML Components
> > Screen Magnifier Property

> AccessibleExtendedComponent.getAccessibleKeyBinding

> > Interface `AccessibleExtendedComponent` has a new method, `getAccessibleKeyBinding`, to return key bindings associated with an object.

> AccessibleRole New Constants

> > Class `AccessibleRole` contains the following new constants:
> > - `DATE_EDITOR`
> > - `FONT_CHOOSER`
> > - `GROUP_BOX`
> > - `SPIN_BOX`
> > - `STATUS_BAR`

> Accessibility Support for HTML Object Tags

> > This release adds accessibility support for HTML `object` tags. `CTRL-t` and `SHIFT-CTRL-t` navigate to the next and previous component, respectively, associated with an `object` tag in an HTML document. `CTRL-SPACE` activates the default action associated with the component.

> Support for Tracking HTMLEditorKit Keyboard Link Traversal

> > Assistive technologies needed a way to track HTMLEditorKit keyboard link traversal. The constant `AccessibleContext.ACCESSIBLE_HYPERTEXT_OFFSET` was added to support this feature.

> Assistive Technologies Property

> > The `javax.accessibility.assistive_technologies` property specifies the assistive technologies to load into the JVM.

> Screen Reader Property

> > The `javax.accessibility.screen_reader_present` property, when set to true, lets the Java platform libraries know that a screen reader is present on the system. Application developers can check this property. If an application is self-voicing and a screen reader is present, developers can turn off the self-voicing.

> API Enhancements

> > The following new classes and interfaces have been added to the JavaTM Accessibility API:
> > - `javax.accessibility.AccessibleEditableText`
> > - `javax.accessibility.AccessibleExtendedComponent`
> > - `javax.accessibility.AccessibleExtendedTable`
> > - `javax.accessibility.AccessibleKeyBinding`
> > In addition, `javax.accessibility.AccessibleContext` was updated to reflect the new classes and interfaces.

> AccessibleEditableText

> > Interface `AccessibleEditableText` provides support for text editing by assistive technologies.

> AccessibleExtendedComponent

> > Interface `AccessibleExtendedComponent` provides the standard mechanism for an assistive technology to determine the extended graphical representation of an object.

> AccessibleExtendedTable

> > Interface `AccessibleExtendedTable` provides extended information about a user-interface component that presents data in a two-dimensional table format.

> AccessibleKeyBinding

> > Interface `AccessibleKeyBinding` provides the standard mechanism for an assistive technology to determine the key bindings which exist for an object.

> Mnemonic Tab Navigation

> > This new feature provides support for easier tab navigation using mnemonics on a `JTabbedPane`.

> List Navigation by First Letter

> > This new feature provides support for list navigation using the first letter of list items.

> Accessibility Support for HTML Components

> > This release provides accessibility support for HTML components in Swing.

> Screen Magnifier Property

> > The `javax.accessibility.screen_magnifier_present` property, when set to true, lets the Java platform libraries know that a screen magnifier is present on the system. Application developers can check this property, and if a screen magnifier is present, developers should make sure their applications are compatible with screen magnification.

Copyright © 2004 Sun Microsystems, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Please send comments to: access@sun.com |