This paper addresses the implications of integrating assistive software for blind and visually impaired people, with mainstream Microsoft Software. The case under discussion is the integration of a simplified Web browser for the blind and partially sighted called BrookesTalk, with Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 using Microsoft Active Accessibility (MSAA). Microsoft Active Accessibility provides hooks that enable Microsoft mainstream software products to be integrated with special assistive software. This facility was used to build the integrated system BrookesExplorer.
ZajicekMPowellCReevesC, 1999a, ‘Web search and orientation with BrookesTalk’, California State University Northridge, CSUN 1999, Technology and Persons with Disabilities, Los Angeles.
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ZajicekMPowellCReevesC, 1999b, ‘Evaluation of a World Wide Web scanning interface for blind and visually impaired users’, Proc. HCI International 1999, Munich.
