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Assistive technology compatibility

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The following is a list of assistive technology products and their compatibility with Firefox.

Windows:
Firefox 2:

Assistive TechnologyTypeCompatibility notes
Dragon Naturally Speaking 1-8Voice command and dictationnot compatible
Dragon Naturally Speaking 9 or laterVoice command and dictationCompatible with problems:
For many details and tips, see http://www.speechcomputing.com/node/942
Mouseless browsing extension recommended
Select and Say not working
Fire Voxfree, open source screen reading extensioncompatible
Hal, Lunar, Supernova etc. (demo/trial versions availableScreen reader, screen magnifiernot compatible
JAWS 1.x-6.xScreen readernot compatible
JAWS 7.0Screen readerSame problems as with JAWS 7.1, and then some more. Technical support requires JAWS 7.1 (we think).
JAWS 7.1Screen readerCompatible with some problems. Problems include:
Notification of text format changes is not complete
Occasional flakiness or duplicated text when reading through document content
Occasional flakiness when reading announcing the current page in the tabbed browsing list.
Does not work well with framed pages
Occasionally loses place when returning to a previously visited page, resetting position to the top of the document
Keystroke conflicts with tabbed browsing
Unexplained performance issues
JAWS 8.0 (trial/demo version available)Screen readerCompatible with some problems. Problems include:
Notification of text format changes is not complete
Occasional flakiness or duplicated text when reading through document content
Occasionally loses place when returning to a previously visited page, resetting position to the top of the document
Please see the Wiki page devoted to JAWS-Firefox compatibility.
MAGic (trial/demo version available)Screen magnifierunknown
NVDAFree (open source) screen readerCompatible. Author says it works well, except for editing text fields. Need verification from end users.
Window-Eyes 1.0-5.0Screen readerNot compatible
Window-Eyes 5.5, Window-Eyes 6.0 (trial/demo version available)Screen readercompatible
ZoomText 1-7Screen magnifiernot compatible
ZoomText 8.0x-8.11Screen magnifierNo AppReader or DocReader. Workaround:
Start ZoomText.
Start FireFox.
Press CTRL+SHIFT+U to bring up the ZoomText user interface.
Click on the Help menu.
Click Tech Support.
In the Fix-It command field, type in:%......%Click Fix-It
You'll see a wrench attached to the mouse pointer, left click within the FireFox window.
A dialog box will open, for Window Class Definition, choose "ChildWindow" in the drop-down menu.
Click Ok.
Click the Close button to close the About box.
Exit and restart ZoomText & FireFox.
Now you should be able to use AppReader/DocReader in FireFox.
Note: May not have column reading support with DocReader/AppReader. Mouse echo does not read by line.
ZoomText 8.12 and ZoomText 9.0x (trial/demo version available)Screen magnifierPartially compatible: May not have column reading support with DocReader/AppReader. Mouse echo does not read by line.
ZoomText 9.xScreen magnifiercompatible

Windows:
Firefox 3:

Assistive TechnologyTypeCompatibility notes
Dragon Naturally Speaking 1-8Voice command and dictationnot compatible
Dragon Naturally Speaking 9 or laterVoice command and dictationCompatible with problems:
For many details and tips, see http://www.speechcomputing.com/node/942
Mouseless browsing extension recommended
Select and Say not working
Fire Voxfree, open source screen reading extensioncompatible
Hal, Lunar, Supernova etc. (demo/trial versions availableScreen reader, screen magnifiernot compatible
JAWS 1.x-6.xScreen readernot compatible
JAWS 7.0Screen readerSame problems as with JAWS 7.1, and then some more. Technical support requires JAWS 7.1 (we think).
JAWS 7.1Screen readerCompatible with some problems. Problems include:
Notification of text format changes is not complete
Occasional flakiness or duplicated text when reading through document content
Occasional flakiness when reading announcing the current page in the tabbed browsing list.
Does not work well with framed pages
Occasionally loses place when returning to a previously visited page, resetting position to the top of the document
Keystroke conflicts with tabbed browsing
Unexplained performance issues
JAWS 8.0 (trial/demo version available)Screen readerCompatible with some problems. Problems include:
Notification of text format changes is not complete
Occasionally loses place when returning to a previously visited page, resetting position to the top of the document
Please see the Wiki page devoted to JAWS-Firefox compatibility.
MAGic (trial/demo version available)Screen magnifierunknown
NVDAFree (open source) screen readerCompatible. Author says it works well, except for editing text fields. Need verification from end users.
Window-Eyes 1.0-5.0Screen readerNot compatible
Window-Eyes 5.5, Window-Eyes 6.0 (trial/demo version available)Screen readercompatible
ZoomText 1-7Screen magnifiernot compatible
ZoomText 8.0x-8.11Screen magnifierNo AppReader or DocReader. Workaround:
Start ZoomText.
Start FireFox.
Press CTRL+SHIFT+U to bring up the ZoomText user interface.
Click on the Help menu.
Click Tech Support.
In the Fix-It command field, type in:%......%Click Fix-It
You'll see a wrench attached to the mouse pointer, left click within the FireFox window.
A dialog box will open, for Window Class Definition, choose "ChildWindow" in the drop-down menu.
Click Ok.
Click the Close button to close the About box.
Exit and restart ZoomText & FireFox.
Now you should be able to use AppReader/DocReader in FireFox.
Note: May not have column reading support with DocReader/AppReader. Mouse echo does not read by line.
ZoomText 8.12 and ZoomText 9.0x (trial/demo version available)Screen magnifierPartially compatible: May not have column reading support with DocReader/AppReader. Mouse echo does not read by line.
ZoomText 9.xScreen magnifiercompatible

Linux:
Firefox 2:

Assistive technologyTypeCompatibility notes
DasherAlternative input using pointerPartially compatible
Fire VoxFree, open source screen reading extensionShould be compatible, but may require special installation procedures. Details unknown.
Gnome MagnifierScreen magnifierPartially compatible
GnopernicusScreen readernot compatible
GOKOnscreen keyboardPartially compatible
LSRScreen readerNot compatible
ORCAScreen readerNot compatible

Linux:
Firefox 3:

Assistive technologyTypeCompatibility notes
DasherAlternative input using pointerPartially compatible
Fire VoxFree, open source screen reading extensionShould be compatible, but may require special installation procedures. Details unknown.
Gnome MagnifierScreen magnifierPartially compatible
GnopernicusScreen readernot compatible
GOKOnscreen keyboardPartially compatible
JambuImproved Web Accessibility for Switch and Alternative Pointer Userscompatible
LSRScreen readerNot compatible
ORCAScreen readerCompatible

Mac OS:
Firefox 2:

Assistive TechnologyTypeCompatibility notes
Fire VoxFree, open source screen reading extensionShould be compatible, but need details
VoiceOverScreen readerNot compatible

Mac OS:
Firefox 3:

Assistive TechnologyTypeCompatibility notes
Fire VoxFree, open source screen reading extensionShould be compatible, but need details
VoiceOverScreen readerNot yet compatible




This article originally derived from Assistive technology compatibility (mozillaZine KB)


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Contributors to this page: Chris_Ilias , myles7897 , AliceWyman and MarcoZ .
Page last modified on Sunday 13 of April, 2008 12:31:57 PST.
- This is a help article -
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