Programmatically providing direct access to user interface elements of an application program

A method for accessing user interface elements of a first application program performed by a client application using a computer system, comprising the steps of:

• requesting, by the client application, a first programmatic access component from the first application program;
• receiving the first programmatic access component;
• utilizing the first programmatic access component to directly and programmatically access at least one of the user interface elements on behalf of the client application;
• conveying a description of said at least one of the user interface elements to a user.

A method for accessing user interface elements of a first application program by a client application using a computer system, comprising the steps of:

• requesting, by the client application, a reference to an interface supported by the first application program, the interface comprising at least one function member that provides access to at least one of the user interface elements;
• receiving the reference to the interface;
• invoking the function member to directly access and manipulate the user interface element in a second application independently such that access and manipulation of the second application user interface elements support the interface in a same manner;
• and
• receiving, by the client application, a notification when one of the user interface elements changes status.

A computer system comprising:

• a video display displaying user interface elements;
• a memory, further comprising:
• an application program for displaying the user interface elements on the video display, and for providing direct access to an implementation of the user interface elements by selecting an interface containing function members that each access the implementation of the user interface elements;
• an accessibility aid for invoking the function members on the interface to provide a user with access to the implementation of the user interface elements;
• and
• an operating system for providing the accessibility aid with access to the interface of the application program and for conveying a description of said user interface element to the user;
• and
• a processor for running the application program, the operating system, and the accessibility aid.

A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a computer system to perform a method for accessing a user interface element of a computer program, the user interface element having a class definition that is able to be instantiated into an object, the method comprising the steps of:

• requesting, by a client application, a reference to an interface supported by the first application program, the interface comprising at least one function member that provides access to at least one of the user interface elements;
• receiving the reference to the interface;
• invoking the function member to directly access and manipulate the user interface element in a second application independently such that access and manipulation of the second application user interface elements support the interface in a same manner;
• and
• receiving, by the client application, a notification when one of the user interface elements changes status.