NETSCAPE ANNOUNCES INDUSTRY STANDARD ACCESSIBILITY
SUPPORT FOR NETSCAPE BROWSER
Netscape's accessibility enhancements will allow assistive technology
vendors, such as developers of screen readers, screen magnifiers and
voice dictation software, to better develop products that are
compatible with the Netscape browser, offering consumers with
disabilities a fresh alternative in browser software.
The built-in support includes accessibility enhancements for
productivity features such as tabbed browsing, My Sidebar, web browsing,
an HTML editor, email client, address book and instant messaging
software. Other highlights include:
- Support for Microsoft Active Accessibility (MSAA)* and read access
to the Document Object Model (DOM).
- Keyboard support and complete keyboard documentation, including a
full list of Keyboard Shortcuts in Netscape Help.
- Convenient zooming technology, which allows users to zoom to any
desired level.
- Support for Microsoft Windows Display Settings featuring the same
fonts and colors as Windows programs when the classic skin is used.
- Support of W3C standards such as HTML, CSS, DOM and MathML and XML.
- Control over HTML layout including preferences for user style sheets
and appearance.
- A new "Browse With Caret" mode, which allows consumers to select text
using the keyboard.
Netscape's accessibility work is part of the Mozilla open source project. To review plans for ongoing Netscape accessibility projects and to learn more about the new industry standard accessibility support for the Netscape 7.02 browser, please visit http://www.mozilla.org/projects/ui/accessibility. To download a copy of the browser, please visit http://channels.netscape.com/ns/browsers
* Please note that as MSAA is not simply a "plug and play" solution,
assistive technology developers will likely need to implement changes
in their own software code to achieve optimal performance with the
Netscape browser.