Is there a way to communicate with USB devices from browser?

Question

Is there a way to communicate with USB devices within regular browser (FF, Safari, IE8, etc)? I assume it could be Javascript -> Java bridge or something else.

Please a

Answer 1

There are two choices

1. Use a browser plugin runtime like (Silverlight or Flash) that talks to Windows HID.

or 2. Use a local HTTP server and have JQuery post backs to the local HTTP Server which inturns talks to HID.