Re: Use of role="application" for flash files

The AT should not ignore landmarks in "document browsing" mode so for this
it should not matter if you are in "application" mode. Flash supports
platform accessibility APIs in the form of MSAA. What they do not do at
this point is support a richer accessibility API which would support the
entirety of WAI-ARIA. I believe Adobe is looking at the end to end solution
but I don't know what progress they have made to supporting an extended API
set like UIA or IAccessible2 in the flash player. Matt May can speak more
to this.

My experience with Flash is that when it is accessible it works when you
are doing application mode style navigation. Browsing the virtual buffer
did not work so well. So, I would agree that having role="application"
would be a great addition to Flash.

Matt, what are your thoughts?

Rich,

Rich Schwerdtfeger
Distinguished Engineer, SWG Accessibility Architect/Strategist
blog: http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/blogs/page/schwer



                                                                           
             James Craig                                                   
             <jcraig@apple.com                                             
             >                                                          To 
             Sent by:                  Victor Tsaran                       
             w3c-wai-pf-reques         <vtsaran@yahoo-inc.com>             
             t@w3.org                                                   cc 
                                       Steven Faulkner                     
                                       <faulkner.steve@gmail.com>, W3C     
             01/16/2009 01:22          WAI-XTECH <wai-xtech@w3.org>,       
             PM                        w3c-wai-pf@w3.org                   
                                                                   Subject 
                                       Re: Use of role="application" for   
                                       flash files                         
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           





I can see the benefit of using application on a Flash movie for the
sake of landmark navigation, but it also is intended to communicate to
the UA/AT to switch from ‘document browsing’ mode into ‘application
interface’ mode, so it doesn’t make as much sense b/c Flash movies
aren’t ARIA applications. In a sense, because Flash isn’t accessible
on all systems, and because the interface is very different from the
web browser’s interface, the author is promising the user something
they can’t always deliver, or may not deliver in the way the user
expects.

In theory, on the platforms where Flash is accessible, the Flash
player could/should communicate role, state, and property information
directly to the accessibility API, instead of going through the
browser via ARIA.


On Jan 16, 2009, at 9:07 AM, Victor Tsaran wrote:

>
> I think in general this is a good idea. However, considering how many
> Flash movies on the Internet are inaccessible, this may cause more
> confusion for the end-user if they are suddenly are left with no
> virtual
> cursor and, subsequently, no ability to review the movie's content.
> Victor
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: wai-xtech-request@w3.org [mailto:wai-xtech-request@w3.org] On
> Behalf Of Steven Faulkner
> Sent: Friday, January 16, 2009 8:09 AM
> To: W3C WAI-XTECH
> Cc: w3c-wai-pf@w3.org PF
> Subject: Use of role="application" for flash files
>
>
> I recieved a question about the use of role="application" for Flash
> files in web pages.
> My response was
> "The role of application does something quite specific, it tells the
> AT
> to switch modes (if the AT uses them). It was only added as a landmark
> role the other day, so I don't think the PF WG have thought about it
> in
> terms of its landmark use. It would make sense for a flash movie
> that is
> an interactive widget to be given a role="application" i guess..."
> (http://www.paciellogroup.com/blog/?p=106)
>
>
> any thoughts or guidance on this?
>
> While on this subject, with the behaviour of some AT being the
> switching
> of modes when a container with role="application" is encountered, will
> this not have a negative effect upon the navigability of landmark
> roles,
> as it is my understanding that landmark role navigation will only work
> in virtual mode?
>
> --
> with regards
>
> Steve Faulkner
> Technical Director - TPG Europe
> Director - Web Accessibility Tools Consortium
>
> www.paciellogroup.com | www.wat-c.org
> Web Accessibility Toolbar -
> http://www.paciellogroup.com/resources/wat-ie-about.html

>
>