AxsJAX
Encyclopedia
AxsJAX is an open source JavaScript library for enhancing the accessibility of Web 2.0 applications.
One of the key abstractions that AxsJAX provides to web developers is the ability to cause assistive technology
(AT) to speak. Although AT do not provide such an interface to web developers, they do respond in predictable ways to events. By using WAI-ARIA
, AxsJAX is able to manipulate the DOM such that an ARIA-aware browser + AT combination will generate and receive the necessary events which cause the AT to speak what the web developer wishes to be spoken.
Another abstraction is a content navigation rules system built around the idea of multiple trails through a page. Users can select which trail they wish to be on and then navigate through just the items in that trail. For example, on a news site, the trails may be the different sections (Politics, Entertainment, Tech, Health, etc) and the items in each trail would the stories in their respective sections.
AxsJAX scripts can be included by the web application developer (as in the case of Google Reader
), automatically applied on behalf of the user by their AT (e.g., Fire Vox
), or manually inserted by the end users themselves via a bookmarklet
or Greasemonkey
script.
Applications of AxsJAX include using it to create a talking translator
and mashing up the xkcd
web comic with its transcripts.
One of the key abstractions that AxsJAX provides to web developers is the ability to cause assistive technology
Assistive technology
Assistive technology or adaptive technology is an umbrella term that includes assistive, adaptive, and rehabilitative devices for people with disabilities and also includes the process used in selecting, locating, and using them...
(AT) to speak. Although AT do not provide such an interface to web developers, they do respond in predictable ways to events. By using WAI-ARIA
WAI-ARIA
is a draft technical specification published by the World Wide Web Consortium that specifies how to increase the accessibility of dynamic content and user interface components developed with Ajax, HTML, JavaScript and related technologies...
, AxsJAX is able to manipulate the DOM such that an ARIA-aware browser + AT combination will generate and receive the necessary events which cause the AT to speak what the web developer wishes to be spoken.
Another abstraction is a content navigation rules system built around the idea of multiple trails through a page. Users can select which trail they wish to be on and then navigate through just the items in that trail. For example, on a news site, the trails may be the different sections (Politics, Entertainment, Tech, Health, etc) and the items in each trail would the stories in their respective sections.
AxsJAX scripts can be included by the web application developer (as in the case of Google Reader
Google Reader
Google Reader is a Web-based aggregator, capable of reading Atom and RSS feeds online or offline. It was released by Google on October 7, 2005 through Google Labs. Reader was graduated from beta status on September 17, 2007.-Interface:...
), automatically applied on behalf of the user by their AT (e.g., Fire Vox
Fire Vox
Fire Vox is a free and open source extension for the Mozilla Firefox web browser that transforms it into a self-voicing application. Easy to install and operate, it works on Windows, Mac, and Linux. It can work independently, or together with screen readers such as Orca. Since its debut in 2005,...
), or manually inserted by the end users themselves via a bookmarklet
Bookmarklet
A bookmarklet is Unobtrusive JavaScript stored as the URL of a bookmark in a web browser or as a hyperlink on a web page. The term is a portmanteau of the terms bookmark and applet, however, an applet is not to be confused with a bookmarklet just as JavaScript is not to be confused with Java...
or Greasemonkey
Greasemonkey
Greasemonkey is a Mozilla Firefox extension that allows users to install scripts that make on-the-fly changes to HTML web page content on the DOMContentLoaded event, which happens immediately after it is loaded in the browser .As Greasemonkey scripts are persistent, the changes made to the web...
script.
Applications of AxsJAX include using it to create a talking translator
and mashing up the xkcd
Xkcd
xkcd is a webcomic created by Randall Munroe. The comic's tagline describes it as "a webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math, and language." It has been recognized in such mainstream media as The Guardian and The New York Times....
web comic with its transcripts.
See also
- AccessibilityAccessibilityAccessibility is a general term used to describe the degree to which a product, device, service, or environment is available to as many people as possible. Accessibility can be viewed as the "ability to access" and benefit from some system or entity...
- Ajax (programming)Ajax (programming)Ajax is a group of interrelated web development methods used on the client-side to create asynchronous web applications...
- Rich Internet applicationRich Internet applicationA Rich Internet Application is a Web application that has many of the characteristics of desktop application software, typically delivered either by way of a site-specific browser, via a browser plug-in, independent sandboxes, extensive use of JavaScript, or virtual machines...
- Universal designUniversal designUniversal design refers to broad-spectrum ideas meant to produce buildings, products and environments that are inherently accessible to both people without disabilities and people with disabilities....
- Fire VoxFire VoxFire Vox is a free and open source extension for the Mozilla Firefox web browser that transforms it into a self-voicing application. Easy to install and operate, it works on Windows, Mac, and Linux. It can work independently, or together with screen readers such as Orca. Since its debut in 2005,...