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Windows Showcase, FAQ and Reviews >> New Microsoft accessibility model enhances possibilities for individuals with disabilities (in Vista)

At work or at home, people with disabilities use the build-in accessibility features or other devices or software with assistive technology in most cases. A user who is blind or visually impared (e.g. low vision or colorblindness) is likely to use a screen voice-reader or magnifier. Another person with physical limitations might use voice-recognition instead of the typical mouse-/keyboard-combination. Cognitive disabilities are also difficult to counteract within the operating system or its software. A wider solution needs to be found...and Microsoft is currently working on it!

             
       Latest Vista Alpha builds show first signs of UI Automation [click for fullscreen]  

Technologies and products exist, however, they are rarely used in applications, enterprises that employ persons with disabilities, schools or universities. Neither developer nor content designer (offline and online) build their platforms or information sources based on accessibility for the most part. Agreed, developing and designing applications focussing on disabilities is difficult but this will be a future market that, in the long run, no state-of-the-art company can escape. According to Microsoft, 57% of U.S. computer users are likely to benefit from accessibility features and hardware. No software company with the wish to stay in the open market can afford excuses like the high costs, the small target group, instability issues or a more difficult development. What developer need is a unified Windows API (application programmers interface) that is easily accessible and doesnt take away the focus from product features.
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Microsofts UI Automation comes into play

A new royalty-free platform, dubbed UI (User Interface) Automation, developed by Microsoft will make it easier for developers to create accessibility features within their programs or make use of already integrated functions. "Microsoft is excited to offer UI Automation to the industry because it allows application developers to easily expose the rich semantic information needed by assistive technology products to create effective, interactive experiences for computer users.[...]" tells Microsofts Rob Sinclair, director of the Accessible Technology Group. UIA is the successor of the Microsoft Active Accessibility platform which (so far) hasnt won a too wide recognition among software companies. However, all the 4-year (extensive) research will go into UIA to improve it as far as possible...
 

Windows Vista and UIA

The UIA technology is supposed to see the light of day in Vista, Microsofts next major Windows release (currently in late alpha, early beta). When activated, it is supposed to integrate itself into several applications and automatically detects key elements (e.g. buttons, help texts). These elements will then be displayed and enhanced suitably - depending on the disability of the individual. Microsoft confirmed that it will even back-port this technology to Windows XP. A release date hasnt been announcened yet, however, it is highly likely that UIA will ship in the early Vista RTM timeframe (Holiday 2006). Microsoft promises to make it both for developer and user easier to build and use upcoming accessibility technologies. We see early advancements from Microsofts accessibility group which informed us about latest UIA developments.

Sandro Villinger
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