Previous | Next | Trail Map | Creating a GUI with JFC/Swing | Using Other Swing Features

How to Support Assistive Technologies

You might be wondering what exactly assistive technologies are, and why you should care. Primarily, assistive technologies exist to enable people with permanent or temporary disabilities to use the computer. For example, if you get carpal tunnel syndrome, you can use assistive technologies to accomplish your work without using your hands.

Assistive technologies -- voice interfaces, screen readers, alternate input devices, and so on -- are useful not only for people with disabilities, but also for people using computers in non-office environments. For example, if you're stuck in a traffic jam, you might use assistive technologies to check your e-mail, using only voice input and output. The accessibility information can be used for other tools, as well, such as automated GUI testers.

[PENDING: Copy relevant accessibility information from A Tour Through a Swing Application.] Assistive technologies also automatically grab the tool tip text (if any) associated with a component and can use it to describe the component to the user.

Here are a few things you can do to make your program work as well as possible with assistive technologies:


Previous | Next | Trail Map | Creating a GUI with JFC/Swing | Using Other Swing Features