[nfbcs] JAVA

[Nicole Torcolini]

Whether or not Java is accessible with a screen reader depends on what
operating system is being used and what kind of programs are being
developed. I have not used Java on a Mac before, but I have heard that the
problems that exist with Windows and Java with screen readers are not
present on the Mac. If you are just writing a command line program in Java,
especially if you are using an IDE such as Eclipse to access the console,
Java is mostly accessible. By default, many of the packages that come with
Java for building the graphics user interface (GUI) do not work with screen
readers  without using Java Access Bridge, which now comes as a part of Java
and can be toggled using the options in the Ease of Access in Vista and
later. However, in order for it to work properly, the path variable must be
set correctly. Alternatively, the swt library can be used to build the GUI,
but I think that there are some limitations to it, and I do not know if it
comes in a 64 bit version.

HTH,
Nicole

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbcs [mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Steve Jacobson
Sent: Saturday, May 11, 2013 7:02 AM
To: NFB in Computer Science Mailing List
Subject: Re: [nfbcs] JAVA

And exactly what will doing exercises prove?  This doesn't seem like an
unreasonable question to raise, and issues for Java and blind people is
somewhat mixed and it would be incorrect to draw absolute conclusions from
exercises.  

How is the computer being accessed?  Specifically is a screen reader being
used?  In general, I would say that JAVA is a language that blind persons
can program in and use, but there are limitations.  To take a course in JAVA
might require that a reader be used to read the screen at some points.  As I
understand it, there are ways to develop JAVA code, but some JAVA programs
are not handled well by screen readers.  It is probably fair to say that
most are not handled well.  There are ways of writing JAVA code so that the
results are accessible, though, but whether these approaches can be used
within a course depends to a great deal on the course.  Since a course is a
relatively short term problem, getting through a course using a reader is
not a bad alternative.  Someone programming in JAVA for the long haul will
want to learn about accessibility.  To my knowledge, Eclipse is one
development platform for JAVA that blind people are using.  Certainly
learning the language and creating JAVA code is possible, but testing one's
code independently is problematic.

Best regards,

Steve Jacobson


On Fri, 10 May 2013 17:36:43 -0400 (EDT), Jude DaShiell wrote:

>Why not try the exercises on http://www.java2s.com/ and find out?  That 
>site has lots of example code and should be a big help since those who 
>already have the degrees go there and do training when they need to 
>pick up new skills.



>-----------------------------------------------------------------------
>---- jude <jdashiel at shellworld.net> About to block another web browser 
>version?
>Ask yourself what Tim Berners-lee would do.


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