Kickstarter

Hi,
As a final update, AccDC can now be downloaded from the home page at
http://whatsock.com/
Under the heading "AccDC API Download".

Everyone currently using the cloud service should switch to the client side version, since it's about ten times faster, plus the download includes important coding advice for accessibility.

All future updates and help will be available through the Accessible Innovators LinkedIn group at
http://www.linkedin.com/groups/Accessible-Innovators-4512178

All the best,
Bryan

I want to thank all of those who backed the project, as well as those who expressed support in other ways. It really means a lot to me.

As Dumbledore once said: "Really, Hagrid, if you are holding out for universal popularity, I'm afraid you will be in this cabin for a very long time."

I couldn't agree more.

Besides which, if I gave up that easily, I would have been dead years ago.

So here's the plan.

On July 1, 2012, I will be publically releasing the AccDC API as a free download from WhatSock.com as a resource for international businesses, organizations, and universities wishing to pioneer the field of Accessible Innovation by incorporating accessibility within future web technologies.

In the coming months, I will also be adding more modules to the Download section, which will be scalable widgets for automatically rendering common control types such as ARIA based radio button and checkbox groupings, and rich select controls. If you have suggestions for other control types, please send me a message.

All controls such as these, and those in the Download section, are freely distributable and can be customized, hosted anywhere, and incorporated into anything you desire.
The same is true for any user interface controls that you build yourself.

AccDC is a rendering engine, which acts as a conduit for rendering user interface components such as these with the highest level of accessibility possible. As such, it does not include HTML markup within it. This allows AccDC to be used to enhance the accessibility of any web technology with equal ease for any purpose.

In short, AccDC is an independent user interface that provides a uniform way for developers to incorporate accessibility within mainstream frameworks, applications, and future web technologies with ease and reliability.

It's unfortunate that the book won't be possible at the present.

Nevertheless, AccDC is already built, fully tested, ready to be used, and is here to stay regardless.

If you would like to forward this message and spread the word about AccDC's eminent release, please do.

Sincerely,
Bryan Garaventa

Hi,
I've added the question "Can AccDC be used to make eBooks accessible?" to the FAQ section.

The answer...

As defined by the International Digital Publishing Forum, the EPUB3 standard ( http://idpf.org/epub/30/spec/epub30-contentdocs.html#app-epubReadingSystem )
supports the use of JavaScript.

So yes, AccDC can be included within eBook publications to power accessible dynamic behaviors within browser based readers.

Hi,
I've concentrated so much on the advanced control types, I forgot to add the simple ones. So I've added them.

The templates for accessible Lightbox, Banner, Tooltip, and Popup controls provide scalable AccDC Object declarations to automate accessibility for screen reader and keyboard only users.

The demo page is available at
http://whatsock.com/modules/standard_dynamic_control_templates/demo.htm
and the package can be downloaded from
http://whatsock.com

The templates can be modified to fit the functionality or layout requirements of any related implementation by changing the template code accordingly, or by dynamically changing the properties within each instantiated AccDC Object at runtime.

They are also fully scalable, and can be used to render any type of content with the same level of accessibility.

Dynamic Localization is also supported, so that each control type can be rendered in any language, whether by hard coding keyword terms in the setup code, or by programmatically modifying the role, accStart, accEnd, and accClose properties at runtime.

Excerpt from the Tips and Tricks section:

All of the above AccDC Object types can be controlled programmatically, such as to open or close an object like so:
// Using the ID property of each AccDC Object, such as 'lightbox'
$A.reg.lightbox.open();

// Or using the ID 'popup'
$A.reg.popup.close();

Similarly, the functionality of AccDC Objects can be changed on the fly while maintaining the same level of accessibility, like so:

// Change the functionality of the Login lightbox to show a Registration lightbox instead
// First, change the role for screen reader users
$A.reg.lightbox.role = 'Register';

// Change the resource locator to point to another form container
$A.reg.lightbox.source = 'files/overlays.html #register1';

// Change the size and width to match the dimensions of the new lightbox
$A.reg.lightbox.cssObj.height = '400px';
$A.reg.lightbox.cssObj.width = '750px';

// Lastly, swap the runAfter function with another function so that event handlers can be properly registered when it opens
$A.reg.lightbox.runAfter = someOtherFunction;

// Now open the newly configured lightbox AccDC Object
$A.reg.lightbox.open();

All the best,
Bryan

First I want to say, to all those who have backed the project, you guys are the best :) Thank you so much! I can't tell you how much your support means to me, regardless whether or not the project succeeds.

Some of you probably already know, but for those who don't, I've updated the FAQ section with answers to some very important questions; including the following:

• What do you mean by Automatic Accessibility? Like a magic accessibility button?
• Are you talking about 100% accessibility?
• How close is this to a Mixin?
• Is this like a Polyfill? Or like Modernizr?
• Is the concept of AccDC more similar to Modernizr, or jQuery?
• Would integrating AccDC into a larger package also see expanded benefits?
• Can you show me how to make an accessible control?

All the best,
Bryan