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Re: Accessibility of Java applets in internet applications

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From: Michael.Moore
Date: Jan 13, 2011 7:39AM

We have had the opportunity to test several applications that use java applets as part of all of a user interface. What we have found is a lot of variability in terms of success that seems to be related to the interplay of the various Java Runtime Environments (JRE) and versions of the Java Access Bridge. The JRE needs to be installed first and if you are updating the JRE both the old JRE and the access Bridge need to be uninstalled first. It is best to use the JRE that the applet was originally written for then identify a version of the access bridge that works well with that JRE and your target assistive technology. Screen readers seem to present the biggest issues but text to speech interfaces can be tricky as well. Real problems start to surface when you have a user who must interact with multiple applications that rely on java applets because it becomes very difficult to identify a single JRE and access bridge combination that will work on all of the applications.

Mike Moore
(512) 424-4159