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Open Source Assistive Technology Software

Open Source Assistive Technology Software. OATS David Colven, Steve Lee & Simon Judge. OATS. Assistive Technology Accessibility Advice and tools for ‘mainstream’ AT Specialist cooperative development The OATS Project FLOSS software and the OATS project Why OATS?

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Open Source Assistive Technology Software

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  1. Open Source Assistive Technology Software OATS David Colven, Steve Lee & Simon Judge FLOSSIE Conference

  2. OATS • Assistive Technology • Accessibility • Advice and tools for ‘mainstream’ • AT • Specialist cooperative development • The OATS Project • FLOSS software and the OATS project • Why OATS? • What does the OATS project deliver? FLOSSIE Conference

  3. ACT The Consortium FLOSSIE Conference

  4. The ACE Centre FLOSSIE Conference

  5. Why OATS? • An AT focus for all FLOSS development • Individual projects and shared • Interested parties contributing together • Many skills solving user requirements • Focussed, flexible and custom solutions • More users with transparent access • Transport AT to new horizons FLOSSIE Conference

  6. Assistive Technology • AT software market is growing • However it is ‘specialised’ • Small Market • Innovation limited • Box fitting – not enough tools • Lots of interested individuals across sectors FLOSSIE Conference

  7. FLOSS What do AT users want? • Good design and Innovation • Simple installation • Transparency • Reliability • Individual solutions to sometimes complex needs (even with universal design) • Low Cost • All software not just AT • Ask for what they want and get involved FLOSSIE Conference

  8. Benefits • Open Source offers an alternative model for developing AT software • Well suited to encourage: • Strong collaboration with users • Innovation • Customisation FLOSSIE Conference

  9. FLOSS Strengths • Many projects like OpenOffice and Firefox now meet users needs with excellent features and support • Ideal for innovation and customising to individual needs • Community and user participation • Rapid development and prototyping • Free! FLOSSIE Conference

  10. OATS FLOSS What’s in it for developers • Community and User participation • Infectious enthusiasm • Innovate and share innovations. • Rapid development and prototyping • Common library of tools and components • No wheel re-inventing! • Easily available and usable by more users • Their work is useful and is used! FLOSSIE Conference

  11. Aims • Software! • Home grown OATS and existing OATS • Resources • Standards • Usability • Installers • Software structure • Data transfer • Resources FLOSSIE Conference

  12. Outcomes • Pilot project now complete • Developed, fully operational site • Prepared means for a ‘community’ • The Future • Oats to continue under day-to-day management • Further development of content, tools etc. • Thriving OS community – come and join in! FLOSSIE Conference

  13. Website • ‘All’ Open SourceAT software in ONE place • Links to free or low cost software • Easy to use searching and browsing for software • Links between developers and users (fora) • Technology transfer from research • Full range of development tools in Forge • Trac etc. FLOSSIE Conference

  14. Oats Examples • Dasher • AutoHotkey • PowerTalk • Special Access to Windows FLOSSIE Conference

  15. Why did we Open Source SAW? • Limited development resources • Keep the software free • Widen the pool of expertise • Open the program to new ideas • As an exemplar of AT development FLOSSIE Conference

  16. Automation of the AT User IinterfaceThe big idea • Potential for enhanced & (semi-) automated accessibility for switch and pointer users as part of a new interface design process. • Dynamically discover UI structure • Extract property information • Receiveevent notifications when UI changes • Be able to Query an element for its behaviour • Click a button, scroll a list, moves a window, etc. • Inject keystrokes and mouse input where appropriate FLOSSIE Conference

  17. Dynamic Selection Set - A User’s Tool The wizard also constructs the appropriate script from the available information from the browser Links and texts extracted automatically and constructed into a selection set Information taken from UIAutomation is used to put data into items SAW works out the number of items needed and constructs a grid of items

  18. Summary • Provides a new model for software development in the AT field • Encourages innovation • Allows users to be heard • Is a single place to go for AT software and resources www.oastsoft.org FLOSSIE Conference

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