Re: scripting apps

[David Bolter <david bolter utoronto ca>]

Havoc Pennington wrote:
> Bill Haneman <bill haneman sun com> writes: 
> > One question then is whether these hooks should be bindings for ATK
> > (in-process), or for at-spi (out-of-process, and potentially remote,
> > which is where they need to be for assistive technologies).
> >     
>
> I think out-of-process is probably right; basically what you want to
> do is have a way to do macros and things for existing apps, without
> modifying the app. I'm told AppleScript was the same idea.
>
> I'm not sure how all the details work, but the idea is that the
> scripting works with user-visible widgets so that people can easily
> figure out how to write scripts, which means a script needs exactly
> the same info as an assistive technology - what buttons there are, how
> to activate one, etc.
>
> Havoc
>
>     
>
I'd like to add my vote that the at-spi bindings be used here.  If such scripting
were developed it could widen the possibilities for the creation, modification
of keyboards for the GOK.  This might sound strange to some, but you have
realize the GOK is not limited to simple keyboard simulation.  We will have
virtual keys that perfom complex actions.  In fact the GOK team briefly discussed
the idea of creating such a scripting language( very briefly).  I really
hope someone takes on such a project.
      
cheers,
      
~~David