Accessing userselection in other programs (browser, notepad etc)

Is there a way I can write a java program that, lets say runs in background, that can access selected text in a browser or notepad?

I am trying to build a pop-up dictionary. When I double click a word, my dictionary should pop up and show the synonyms.

I know it can be done if I learn to write firefox addons :( which I hear is a hard task. I am an intermediate programmer in java.so thought I would stick to java instead of javascript.

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a java program that, lets say runs in background, that can access selected text in a browser or notepad

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No, you can't write spyware in Java.

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I am trying to build a pop-up dictionary. When I double click a word, my dictionary should pop up and show the synonyms.

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You can do that if the word you double click is also displayed in your Java program.

db