This will in turn help to greatly lower the cost of accessible technology for end-users, he added.

The AEGIS initiative will follow open-source desktop accessibility efforts like the and the

Microsoft also has developed a of accessibility features for its products.

Sun doesn't want to compete with other vendors around accessibility, said Korn, who described it as "a common good. ... If we do this open-source, we can collaborate on thoughtful solutions."

While not everything done through AEGIS will have an open-source license, the vast majority will, according to Korn.