Web and Software: Platform Issues

Mailing List Threads on this topic:

• Discussion on "platform" and "application" on the mailing list.
• Platforms and service oriented archtecture

Definitions from HFES 200

• Platform software (the operating system and associated layers, and toolkits). Operating system, drivers and associated software layers. Includes Windowing Systems, libraries and associated toolkits that provide or affect the user interface of other software (e.g. GNOME, KDE, Java runtime, Visual Basic, applications executing scripts or hosting embedded objects, etc.) NOTE: If a software program uses its own routine to provide, override, or replace OS driver functions then the application would need to conform to related Platform Software provisions.
  • Concerned with what a platform is, there are a number of cases like Directx, or Media player that are not closed systems like Java Runtime and it appears this language pulls them in and that is a concern. A definition of a platform should be refined as a closed system with caution as to how we use the word closed. ActiveX would not apply, because it is not typically launched from the desktop. ActiveX is an application that runs little programs when you create a graphic scene. It interprets and creates a 3D program. Many of the same characteristics as a VM, but not a complete system, it is part of a sub-system.
  • Alternate proposal (Sean): A platform is a collection of software components (B) that runs on an underlying software or hardware layer (A), such that B creates a virtual environment in which to run third party applications (C) in a manner which isolates the applications C from the underlying layer A.
    • Note 1: B is not a platform if there is a direct route from C to A. For example, a program which hosts plug-in's is not a platform if the plug-in could directly access the underlying layer A.
    • Note 2: B is not a platform if it's an application offering a compute service, such as a 3d rendering engine where a requesting application could directly access the underlying layer A.
  • Alternate proposal (Allen): A platform is a collection of software components that runs on an underlying software or hardware layer, such that the platform creates a virtual environment in which to run applications in a manner which isolates the applications from the underlying layer.
    • Note 1: if there is a direct route from the application to the underlying layer then the software components in the middle are not considered to be a "platform". For example, a program which hosts plug-in's is not a platform if the plug-in could directly access the underlying layer.
    • Note 2: Ann application offering a compute service, such as a 3d rendering engine where a requesting application could directly access the underlying layer would also not be considered a "platform".
    • Note 3: Platforms can include such things as Internet browsers, operating systems, plug-ins to internet browsers or other software applications, and under some situations, byte-code interpreted virtual environments, and other "programming within another programming" environment.
• Application software (which run on and make use of services provided by platform software). Software not considered as part of the operating system or its immediate layers. This includes "desktop" software bundled with an operating system, personal productivity applications, development tools, Web browsers, and other non-OS software.
• Assistive technology. Hardware or software that is added to or incorporated within a system that increases accessibility for an individual. Some portions may function as platform software while other portions may function as application software and would be covered above. Guidelines for the design of assistive technology in general are outside the scope of this document.

Proposal

See Peter's post from May 31, 2007

Software that is both a 'platform', and an 'application' running on another platform shall:

• a. expose the underlying platform's color, contrast, and other individual display settings to applications running within its platform, so that these applications can respect the color, contrast, and other individual displays settings of the underlying platform - so that those applications can meet 1194.21(g) / 3.2.E.

• b. define, expose, and translate accessibility service information between applications running within its platform and the underlying platform - so that those applications can meet 1194.21(d) / 3.4.A.

• c. mediate any keyboard control and navigation between the applications and the underlying platform, to provide for a consistent navigation mechanism between user interface elements inside the application and those outside of it.

Summary of discussion on proposal

• Color contrast settings related to platform on a platform were handled in ANSI and ISO by saying that the platform software needed to provide them if they were not already provided from the platform below. They either can see the underlying platform or they see the platform below them. They work off of what they can see. ISO 9241-171 is on both the HFES or ISO ballot and both have the same wording.
• Discussed at the June 6, 2007 meeting