Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Any Linux users? (self.Blind)
submitted 8y ago by geoffisblind
I'm interested in experimenting with Linux again, I used it a lot before I had a need for accessibility software, now I'm on Windows 7. I'm currently a heavy ZoomText user and I'm about to start trying out JAWS. Are there alternatives for the Linux platform?
modulus 2 points
There are 4 main approaches to gnu/linux accessibility:
1. Speakup. It's a console screen reader that can read the system right from startup, but requires kernel module.
2. Console screen readers like yasr. They're executed by the user, possibly on the logging script, and are bound to one particular terminal. They allow cursor review and the like.
3. emacspeak. This is an add-on which adds voice support to emacs. emacs is an editor, but it's extensible so all kinds of things can be done from it (web navigation, email, some music edition...).
4. Orca. This is the x-based screen reader and it operates with the gnome accessibility standards. I hear it can work in some other window managers, but can't speak to it personally.
For most users orca is probably the best option. Speakup and yasr are handy if one can't or doesn't want to run X for whatever reason, such as performing maintenance on a system. Emacspeak is really powerful its own way but it has a very difficult learning process, since you must learn to operate emacs itself.
1. Speakup. It's a console screen reader that can read the system right from startup, but requires kernel module.
2. Console screen readers like yasr. They're executed by the user, possibly on the logging script, and are bound to one particular terminal. They allow cursor review and the like.
3. emacspeak. This is an add-on which adds voice support to emacs. emacs is an editor, but it's extensible so all kinds of things can be done from it (web navigation, email, some music edition...).
4. Orca. This is the x-based screen reader and it operates with the gnome accessibility standards. I hear it can work in some other window managers, but can't speak to it personally.
For most users orca is probably the best option. Speakup and yasr are handy if one can't or doesn't want to run X for whatever reason, such as performing maintenance on a system. Emacspeak is really powerful its own way but it has a very difficult learning process, since you must learn to operate emacs itself.
geoffisblind [OP] 1 points
Thanks, I will certainly look into that. I am thinking about adding another SSD to my system so I can boot into Linux, I just enjoy the open source nature of it. I will look into Orca when I get around to expanding my system. Much appreciated!
Nighthawk321 1 points
Not a Linux user, but I would use NVDA instead of JAWS. Nvda is free and takes up a lot less ram, you can also create portable copies.
geoffisblind [OP] 1 points
Oh nice, I will definitely check out NVDA... Looking at the price tag on JAWS was making me nervous.
Nighthawk321 1 points
Yeah, there are many people who will argue that JAWS is better, that may be true for people who aren't into technology. NVDA is open source, so you can write and install addons that other people have made.
geoffisblind [OP] 2 points
I always like open source, is there a pretty active 3rd party add on community? Also the fact that it isn't insanely expensive is nice, to be honest I wasn't sure how I was going to pay for JAWS. When I get home I'll get NVDA on my desktop and start experimenting.
Nighthawk321 1 points
I believe so. I'm pretty sure NVDA is coded in Python. There's all sorts of addons such as:
1 A dropbox addon that tells you the version, upload speed, and size with shift NVDA d.
2 A weather addon.
3 A bit torrent sync addon.
4 A translator addon.
5 An addon that copies the last thing NVDA said to your clipboard.
6 Other addons that provide support for apps like TeamTalk, Skype, etc.
If you want, when I get home, I can zip up NVDA along with the addons that I use and I can give you a link to download them.
1 A dropbox addon that tells you the version, upload speed, and size with shift NVDA d.
2 A weather addon.
3 A bit torrent sync addon.
4 A translator addon.
5 An addon that copies the last thing NVDA said to your clipboard.
6 Other addons that provide support for apps like TeamTalk, Skype, etc.
If you want, when I get home, I can zip up NVDA along with the addons that I use and I can give you a link to download them.
homerq 1 points
I believe there is a Knoppix version that might be suitable.
http://www.knopper.net/knoppix-adriane/index-en.html
http://www.knopper.net/knoppix-adriane/index-en.html
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