The Java Accessibility API (JAAPI) is one of the core parts
of the Java Foundation Classes (JFC). The JFC are a
comprehensive set of graphical user interface components and
foundation services designed to simplify deployment of
Internet, intranet and desktop applications. The JAAPI makes
GUI component information available to assistive
technologies, giving users alternative presentation and
control of Java applications.
Java Accessibility Utilities
The
Java Accessibility Utilities help assistive technologies
take advantage of the Java Accessibility API. The Utilities
monitor events related to UI components. They also help
assistive technologies get additional information about a
GUI, such as the current position of the mouse, or the window
that currently has focus.
The Utilities are released separately from the JFC, but
they can be downloaded from the JFC Home
Page.
Pluggable Look and Feel
The Java Foundation Classes implement a Pluggable Look and
Feel architecture. This architecture allows non-visual
manifestations of a user interface to replace or enhance the
visual presentation of an application. The expression of the
user interface is separated from the underlying structure and
data of each individual component. This is accomplished by
separating the user interface of the component from its
model. The model of a component is the structure which
encapsulates the state and information that is presented to
the user by the user interface. More information on this
architecture can be found in The Swing
Connection.