Bindows 2.0 provides Section 508 tools for developers

On June 9, MB Technologies released Bindows 2.0, the latest version of their Web-based object-oriented platform. The new Bindows framework includes support for Section 508-compliant accessibility in Internet Explorer and is the first Asynchronous JavaScript and Extensible Markup Language (AJAX) platform of its kind to do so.

“We enable developers who use the Bindows platform to develop applications that are accessible,” said Yoram Meriaz, chief executive officer of MB Technologies. “Almost all the accessibility controls available in Windows are available to the user.” Bindows also allows for interoperability with Section 508-compliant applications, including text-to-screen readers JAWS and Window-Eyes, as well as screen magnifiers such as MAGic. The Paciello Group, a company that specializes in designing accessible interfaces, helped with the development of accessibility support.

Bindows is an AJAX framework for developing Web applications that are comparably feature-rich to desktop applications. It is based on Dynamic HTML and uses JavaScript as its programming language.

Some developers that use Bindows count the Internal Revenue Service, the Social Security Administration, the Air Force and other agencies as their customers. The Bindows platform was originally developed for the Air Force in conjunction with Northrop Grumman.