[Blindmath] Linux

[Michael Whapples]

Yes linux is perfectly accessible and in my mind in certain ways 
superior to windows, however there may be certain things you can't do 
with it and windows may be the only option (eg. if you want to use the 
IVEO for diagrams I think windows will be the only option).

One thing I strongly advise is get to understand the system, the 
directory layout is different (it doesn't start on drive letters, you 
mount (insert) your drives where you want in the file system), most 
devices can be accessed as files, some notation is different (eg. the 
path separator, normally \ (backslash) on windows is the / (stroke) 
character on linux), etc. Generally a good way to find out these basic 
things is by using it through the command line interface. Once you know 
how to refer to things (eg. hard disks, redirect output and input, etc) 
on linux then move on to trying the graphical interface. I suggest doing 
that because so many come from windows expecting windows and the 
graphical interface is sufficiently close to windows they don't 
recognise the differences and the changes they need to make to their 
working style and so pretty soon can find themselves in a mess without a 
clue of how to get out of it. Also don't forget the internet is a wealth 
of information and tutorials when it comes to Linux, the answer is 
probably out there its a matter of finding it.

Now to what is available:
* Brltty, a system for controlling a Braille display. It also reads the 
screen in the command line mode and orca the graphical screen reader can 
use brltty for Braille output when you use the graphical desktop.
* Speakup, a command line screen reader only producing speech output. 
Speakup slightly differs from other screen readers as it can be built 
right into the Linux kernel (the part right at the heart of the 
operating system) and rarely fails.
* Emacspeak, this is a bit of a must if you want to use LaTeX, its an 
extremely powerful editor. To be accurate, emacs is the editor, 
emacspeak is a add on for emacs which makes emacs speak. As emacspeak is 
working so much closer to emacs and has access to some of the internal 
information it means it can give very good detailed output, rather than 
making a good guess. As a side note you may also want to look at the VI 
editor, another powerful editor but it doesn't have any speech add on. 
VI is preferred by some as it needs less key presses (I don't think its 
uncommon for emacs to use multiple multi key presses to do one action).
* Orca, I chose to leave to last as I think may be should be learnt last 
as it could be too tempting just to use the GUI and muddle your way 
through for a bit. Well orca is a screen reader for the graphical 
desktop environment (the GNOME desktop). Orca can produce speech, 
Braille and magnification. Orca purely relies on the accessibility API 
of the desktop system and any application which doesn't participate in 
the supported accessibility API will be inaccessible (a good example is 
skype, there is a Linux version but it is written the KDE desktop 
graphical toolkit and so doesn't use the GNOME accessibility API).

As for other software which you may need for your course, there's lots 
available, again may be name ones you know you will need and the Linux 
equivalent can be named, there's just too much to list on its own here.

Michael Whapples
On 02/01/10 19:35, Matthew Cooper wrote:
> I have heard that Linux is something to consider using.  I have
> limited knowledge about this os and would love some information on how
> a blind person could use this.  Do screen readers, braille displays,
> and other devices work?  Thanks!      Matt
>
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