From: novakme@macc.wisc.edu (Mark Novak)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: I/O Conference
Date: 8 Jan 93 13:34:55 GMT
Reply-To: novakme@macc.wisc.edu (Mark Novak)
Originator: wtm@sheldev.shel.isc-br.com

Index Number: 26997

Mark E. Novak
Trace Research and Development Center
Waisman Center
University of Wisconsin-Madison
1500 Highland Avenue
Madison,  WI  53705-2280

Bitnet Address: novakme@wiscmacc
Internet Address: novakme@macc.wisc.edu

DATE:  January 1993

SUBJECT:

Research underway at the University of WI-Madison to enable
users with disabilities to access computer workstations.

Disability Action Committee for X (DACX):

Computer workstations typically run some variant of the Unix
operating system, and until recently, providing a "common"
access solution was difficult.  However, standardization of
the X Window System under the X Consortium has brought
uniformity to Unix.  The X Window System therefore provides
an ideal place to start a "cross-platform" workstation
accessibility solution.

A number of efforts for providing access to X Windows have
already begun in research labs around the country.  At
Georgia Tech, Elizabeth Mynatt is leading a group of
researchers who are attempting to provide "transparent"
access to the X Window System applications for computer
users who are blind.  At MIT, Keith Packard published in the
Winter 1992 X Resource an article about his research using
XTrap (i.e. XTrap is an X extension developed to monitor
both the X server and clients connected to it.) extension to
possibly assist people with a physical disability.

The Trace Center, a R&D Lab at the University of WI-Madison,
has also been working on computer access strategies for
several years.  As a result of these efforts, both Apple
Computer and IBM have funded cooperative development at the
Trace Center aimed at making their personal computers and
operating systems more accessible.  For Apple, the Easy
Access System Utility software is distributed as part of
every Macintosh computer sold while IBM distributes the
AccessDOS software package free of charge to anyone who
requests it.  The Trace Center also developed the Access
Pack for Microsoft Windows.  Easy Access, AccessDOS, and the
Access Pack software packages contain multiple features,
many of which assist individuals with physical disabilities
to utilize the standard input devices (i.e. keyboard and
mouse) more readily.

Prompted by numerous requests from individuals and computer
companies, the Trace Center organized a cooperative group of
researchers and companies interested in developing access
solutions to X Windows.  The group is called the
Disabilities Access Committee for X (DACX).  An initial
meeting of DACX was held in Minneapolis in October, 1992, in
conjunction with Closing-The-Gap, a national conference with
a focus on people with disabilities.  Discussion at the
meeting centered around what is being done to provide
accessibility features for computer workstations.

Subcommittees were formed to further research three specific
areas: the definition of hooks or library calls needed to
develop screen readers in X; screen magnification in X; and
built in physical access features for X.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Anyone interested in more information about DACX or the
Trace Center, are encouraged to contact either Dr. Gregg
Vanderheiden or Mark Novak at the Trace Center, 1500
Highland Avenue, Madison, WI. 53705-2280 (608) 262-6966 or
via email (novakme@macc.wisc.edu).  Please include your mail
address with company name, an email address, and a telephone
number to facilitate sending of printed materials.