Issue 117512 - Provide API to check if assistive technology is active
Summary: Provide API to check if assistive technology is active
Status: CONFIRMED
Alias: None
Product: General
Classification: Code
Component: code (show other issues)
Version: version58
Hardware: PC Windows NT
: P3 Normal (vote)
Target Milestone: ---
Assignee: AOO issues mailing list
QA Contact:
URL:
Keywords: accessibility, usability
Depends on:
Blocks:
 
Reported: 2011-03-22 17:29 UTC by frank.loehmann
Modified: 2013-08-07 15:31 UTC (History)
2 users (show)

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Issue Type: DEFECT
Latest Confirmation in: ---
Developer Difficulty: ---

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Description frank.loehmann 2011-03-22 17:29:30 UTC 
We need the possibility to decide (via API), if UI could make use of in-line messages or if UI must use modal dialogs, because an assistive technology like screen reader is active. In-line messages are not accessible because AT tool will not recognize those messages.

This new API will allow us to use more modern UI element without the risk of breaking accessibility.
Comment 1 malte_timmermann 2011-03-25 07:51:10 UTC 
Some comments...

You say "assistive technology like screen reader...".

I guess a screen reader is the only AT you are interested here, and also the only AT you might be able to figure out (at least on Windows).

An On Screen Keyboard is also AT, but you are probably not interested in that, and you will also not be able to detect it.

On Windows, if the screen reader sets the appropriate flag somewhere, it's possible to figure out that a screen ready is running.

I am not sure if this is possible on MAC or GNOME.

Before creating such API, beside figuring out if it really can be implemented, I would like to see one use case where I agree that it can't be handled by sending appropriate accessibility events...
Comment 2 Oliver-Rainer Wittmann 2012-06-13 12:32:26 UTC 
getting rid of value "enhancement" for field "severity".
For enhancement the field "issue type" shall be used.