ACCESSIBLE - Applications Design and Development

Disability Impairment Approximation Simulator (DIAS)

Developed by CERTH/ITI

DIAS is a Netbeans plugin. It approximately simulates the difficulties someone with vision and other impairments face when interacting with Java Swing GUIs.

Actually, DIAS comprises of two Netbeans plugins. One that enables the developer/designer to preview the implemented GUI application in a simulated fashion and also alert him for any accessibility errors/warnings the application may have. The developer/designer is then able to resolve any of these erros/warnings. The other plugin enables the developer/designer to run the implemented GUI application in a simulated fashion and test the full functionality.

Available demonstrators

DIAS Training Material and Tutorials

  • Standalone tool tutorial (PDF)
  • NetBeans plugin tutorial (PDF)

Video tutorial

Key publications

  • [1] Oikonomou, T., Votis, K., Korn, P., Tzovaras, D., Likothanasis, S., A Standalone Vision Impairments Simulator for Java Swing Applications. in Holzinger, A. and Miesenberger, K. (Eds.) HCI and Usability for e-Inclusion, Springer Berlin / Heidelberg, 2009, 387-398
  • [2] Votis, K., Oikonomou, T., Korn, P., Tzovaras, D. and Likothanassis, S. 2009. A visual impaired simulator to achieve embedded accessibility designs. In Proceedings of the IEEE International Conference on Intelligent Computing and Intelligent Systems 2009, ICIS, (Shanghai, China, 2009), 368-372.
  • [3] Oikonomou, T., Votis, K., Tzovaras, D., and Korn, P. 2010. Designing and developing accessible java swing applications. In Proceedings of the 12th international conference on Computers helping people with special needs: Part I, ICCHP, (Vienna, Austria, 2010), Miesenberger, K., Klaus, J., Zagler, W., and Karshmer, A. (Eds.). Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, 186-188.
  • [4] Giakoumis, D., Kaklanis, N., Votis, K., Tzovaras, D. Enabling user interface developers to experience accessibility limitations through visual, hearing, cognitive and physical impairment simulation. Universal Access in the Information Society, Springer Berlin / Heidelberg. Accepted for publication 2012.

Detailed information

Please follow this link for more information about DIAS.