[Trainer-talk] Trainer-talk Digest, Vol 76, Issue 10

[Blaine Clark]

Subject: [Trainer-talk] Re : at training for a 5 year old

Depending on what you want to present to a five year old, you may also 
want to take a look at a Linux build called Vinux. It's specially 
scripted for the visually impaired. Vinux is based on Ubuntu which has 
another spin-off called EdUbuntu which is aimed at classroom use with 
many packages of games and educational programs for pre K through and 
beyond 12. Since Ubuntu maintains the program repositories for all of 
it's derivatives, you can install any of the EdUbuntu packages into 
Vinux. Vinux has several screen readers and screen magnifiers. The best 
part is it's free. I've been collecting used computers in my area and 
installing Vinux then mailing the towers and laptops free using the Free 
Matter for the Blind program of the USPS. The only cost on my end is 
time and packaging for shipping. I've sent such units to several places 
in Pennsylvania. There are online tutorials and youtube has several 
videos on Vinux. The Distro Watch site can be used to learn about most 
of the builds of Linux. It's 
http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=vinux

You'll find out that Linux is not the hard to use OS that it has been 
known as for years. Linux has moved into the user friendly mode and 
Ubuntu is one of the most Microsoft like builds today.

Vinux has many language packages and is used in India, Africa, South 
America and elsewhere. It began in England at the Royal National 
Institute for the Blind. One of the lecturers, Tony Sales began work on 
it over four years ago and now there are several skilled developers. I'm 
a volunteer promoter and beta version tester as well as a volunteer 
distributor. I gave up on Microsoft's updates constantly messing up my 
computer two years ago. I haven't used MS in two years with only one 
regret; that I didn't change earlier.

Vinux is compatible with most Braille displays and other assistive 
hardware peripherals. It's no more difficult to learn than Microsoft. 
Everything about it is free. The screen readers, browsers, email 
programs, the several office suites, media players, games and much more.

Blaine