FLASH CS3
User Guide
481
See also
“Creating accessibility with ActionScript” on page 362
Handling audio, video, and animation
When you provide audio narrations or video that contains speech, provide captions for those users who cannot hear.
You can use text fields in Flash, import video that contains captions, or even use an XML caption file. You can use
video cue points to specify when a text field should update text information at runtime.
For information on using Hi-Caption SE and the Hi-Caption Viewer component, see
www.adobe.com/go/flash_extensions
. This third-party extension lets you create captions that you save in an XML
file and load into the SWF file at runtime, among other advanced controls. Alternatively, you can use cue points and
a text field to display caption information.
See also
“Accessibility for hearing-impaired users” on page 354
Accessibility and extending Flash
With the extensibility layer in Flash, developers can create extensions that enable advanced authoring. This lets third-
party companies develop extensions that involve accessibility. You have several options for validating your SWF files
or adding captions.
For example, a validation tool can examine your SWF file for missing descriptions. It checks to see if a description is
added for a group of instances, or if text has a label for the instance, and tells you about any problems. The tool also
examines the reading order in your SWF file, and finds all instances that must be specified. You can specify reading
order by using a dialog box after the SWF file is analyzed.
For information on the currently available third-party extensions, see
www.adobe.com/go/flash_extensions
.
Test files and make changes
Test any SWF file that is intended for use with screen readers. Test your SWF files when each new version of Flash
Player is released, including minor revisions, and test it with the following:
•
Window Eyes and JAWS for Windows screen readers, which handle SWF files differently, so you could get
different results for the user experience.
•
In a browser without a screen reader, and navigate through your site without using the mouse.
•
Turn off your monitor and use only the screen reader to navigate your website.
•
If you use audio narration, test your site without speakers.
•
With several target visitors.
Note:
You do not have to test different browsers, because the technology used to expose SWF files to screen readers
(MSAA) is supported only by Internet Explorer on Windows.
When listening to your SWF file using a screen reader, check the following points:
•
Is the reading order correct?
•
Do you have descriptions for shortcuts in your SWF file?
•
Do you have adequate and complete descriptions for the elements in the interface?
