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Typescript player for HTML5
(This is about Unix typescript, not the more recent programming language called TypeScript)I wrote this to make an in-browser demonstration of Primer Pooler. It uses code from DOStoy to display a typescript in an HTML5 canvas.
Advantages:
- The Javascript is entirely self-contained. It does not require any special setup on the server side and you don't have to rely on a third-party server.
- Reduces data transfer without blurring the text (although HTML5 Canvas can be blurred under some circumstances)
- New text stays entirely within the canvas and is not added to the web page, thus avoiding bad interactions with screenreaders and accessibility CSS
- Canvas appears only on wide screens, won't clutter mobile devices (I'm assuming the demonstration is non-essential)
- Animation does not start until clicked on (to avoid annoying anyone who's not looking at it), and can be paused/resumed at any time by clicking again
- The typescript can be viewed in the Javascript source.
Disadvantages:
- No rewind control
- Won't stop the screensaver
- Can't copy/paste or change the font without looking at the source
- The terminal program must be simple: think line-mode interaction with some colours. Full-screen editors etc will not work properly (at least not without further work on the converter)
- No screen-reader accessibility. But as mentioned above I'm assuming the demonstration is entirely optional; people who don't think visually shouldn't need it (I know I don't; I'm just doing this because apparently some sighted people want it).
Download: script2canvas.py (License: MIT)
Usage:
- On a GNU/Linux terminal, do script -t log2 2>log1 and record as appropriate
- Do python script2canvas.py >demo.js
- Optionally edit the resulting
demo.js
file if you want to 'airbrush' your mistakes - In your HTML, put:
<span id="DOStoyPlace"></span><script src="demo.js"></script>
- Test
All material © Silas S. Brown unless otherwise stated.
Javascript is a trademark of Oracle Corporation in the US.
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Unix is a trademark of The Open Group.
Any other trademarks I mentioned without realising are trademarks of their respective holders.