Server Based Adaptive Technologies

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Server Based Adaptive Technologies

• Zuhair Mahd

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What is server based technology

• Server based technology is intended to serve
  multiple users through a single network
  installation on that server.

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Why server based technology?

• Costs less than client based technology.
• Easier to maintain and setup.
• Allows access to the software from any location
  which has access to the network, whether on or
  off site.
• Allows each user to take their custom settings
  with them wherever they go.

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Types of server technology

• Client server
• Terminal services
• Remote/internet based technology

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Client server

• Software is run on the client, but is taken from
  the server. The user environment is saved on the
  server
• Very efficient, since the server primarily
  provides file/printer access and regulating
  access to files from multiple clients.
• Is one of the older networking technologies.

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Terminal services

• Sitrix (Citrix)
• Terminal Services (TS)
• Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP)

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Wan/vpn/remote access

• Shares many of the characteristics of client
  server technologies, but is usually accessed
  remotely via VPN, dial up or dedicated lines.
• WAN Wide Area (computer) Network
• VPN Virtual Private Network

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Internet

• This is an emerging technology.
• Allows for applications to communicate regardless
  of platform.
• Shares some characteristics of the previously
  mentioned technologies.

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Adaptive technologies

• Early screen readers didnt have trouble
  functioning on a network.
• It took a while for screen readers under windows
  to catch up with networking technology, as it
  developed at a very rapid pace.
• Terminal services was not accessible as late as
  2003.
• Internet technologies are still not yet
  accessible.

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Screen readers and client server technology

• The first to provide support for this technology
  were Dolphins products, Supernova, Hal and
  Lunar.
• JFW (JAWS) and Window-eyes followed thereafter.
• One of the biggest issues was roaming profiles.
• While all screen readers provide some kind of
  support for Roaming profiles, each has its
  limitations.

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Screen readers and terminal services (TS)

• Until CSUN 2003.
• Limited magnification was available on the client
  side, but it has lots of problems.
• Dolphin followed GW-Micro in the fall of 2003 by
  releasing a version of their software which
  supports speech, Braille and magnification on the
  Sitrics, TS and RDP platforms.
• JFW released their remote access support in
  December of 2004.

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Why TS support is so important

• Many large corporations are switching rapidly to
  TS, as its much easier to maintain.
• Just like the early nineties, when Windows came
  out, blind and visually impaired persons lost
  their jobs and access to any programs that run on
  that platform.
• As hand held devices begin to access TS servers,
  there will be more reason for companies to switch
  to them.

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Limitations of screen reader support for TS

• Screen reader needs to be installed on the
  server.
• Some screen readers require you to use different
  commands when you are in a TS environment.
• Because of the vast amount of data, performance
  tend to be slower with remote access.

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Individual screen readers

• An outline of individual screen readers support
  in the TS environment.

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Window-Eyes

• Was the first to support TS.
• Supports local and remote synthesizers, but using
  remote synthesizers is pretty sluggish.
• Support of Office, apart from Word, is poor.
• Limited in customization compared to the others.

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JFW

• Was the last to support TS.
• Charges extra for using TS.
• Information about how it works is pretty scarce,
  and no download evaluation copies are available.

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SuperNova

• Supported TS shortly after Window-eyes
• Uses the same commands inside a session.
• Provides seamless access to terminal sessions.
• Provides a set of extremely powerful and easy to
  use features with both the blind and sighted
  developers/customizers.
• The only package that provides magnification,
  speech and Braille in the same package.
• Works on hand held computers, which are
  increasingly being used to access TS.
• Supports a JFW and Magic keyboard emulation keys
  both inside and outside a TS session.

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Whats in store in the near future?

• The use of TS based services will rapidly spread
  due to lower cost and rapid deployment.
• The use of remote access technology will increase
  as wireless, Bluetooth GPRS, EGPRS, UMTS and RF
  usage increases.