I'm not visualy impaired, just trying to help a bit here and there. The device, Sharp Zaurus, has a tiny keyboard for input, I assume there is a way to attach larger keyboard, but you can use pickboard, unicode, and handwriting which is probably not suitable for visualy impaired without audio output. Some innovative company could come out with attachments assisting visualy or otherwise impaired people. I forgot to mention it only cost me $299 for the PDA itself on sale. You can pay the same for mini MP3 player that has only one function, ply music. Wireless cards go for around $130. Prices might come down from the current street price of about $450. My current internal memory usage: 32MB total, 21 MB Used, 11 MB available. Since flash memory is getting unbelievably cheap it's not hard to decide to buy additional storage for user applications and data. I've seen 128 MB CF memory for less than $80 on sale. With that kind of storage and hepufuly sufficient CPU power one could run text to speech programs. Since the OS is open source I'm sure one could port many programs from other platforms to run in Zaurus. Dependig on memory and CPU usage, speech programs should be no exception. Only (?) 20 years ago I used to work on mainframe computers that had less memory, CPU was way slower, and data storage, i.e. disk drives stored only about 40 MB per disk pack. Oh, and the only sound was noise from huge motors and fans. Rafael On Fri, Aug 23, 2002 at 03:07:56PM -0400, rick watson wrote: > This sounds like we are headed in the right direction. > Are you visually impaired and if so, how do you access the device. > > thanks > > Rick > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Rafael Skodlar,,, [mailto:raffi@linwin.com] > Sent: Friday, August 23, 2002 3:11 PM > To: blinux-list@redhat.com > Subject: Re: talking handheld > > > I bought Sharp Zaurus PDA device at last Linux world expo in San > Francisco. I'm very pleased with it and it's the most promising PDA in > my opinion. Briefly, it has 64 MB of main memory, CF port, memory stick > port, cradle port, sound input and output, tiny keyboard, and infrared > port. Cradle port can be used for serial or USB type of connections. > > I haven't used sound on it yet but it's possible to play mp3 files which > makes me think that one should be able to install software that > generates sound output. It's possible to use audio input from microphone > or whatever other source to record into file. Sound output works with > headphones and can be connected to amplifier with speakers. Sound demo > at the tradeshow was impressive. > > Besides original OS, one can overwrite it with openZaurus, which > excludes commercial software like Opera (web browser) and office tools. > Open source of course provides many of the tools we enjoy in other > versions of Linux or Unix. > > I downloaded programs like console which gives me access to bash and > other GNU tools. Having wireless card inserted in CF port (compact flash > memory) I can connect to wireless network to get email, browse the > internet, etc. I haven't tried lynx yeat but have no dubt it works as > expected. Another important tool I use is openssh. > > Backups are simple, Zaurus creates tar file on CF card that can be dealt > with on any Linux desktop. Files can easily be transfered between the > machines using CF card. I haven't tried memory stick yet but assume it > works just like CF does. > > In short, I recommend Sharp's Zaurus for it's flexibility, support for > open source, and computing power. It's graphical part of software could > be removed to gain memory space for the blind specific tools. Perhaps > some kind of speech generating software could be installed on it. Ever > growing density of CF memory makes it possible to keep bigger and bigger > files in PDAs. If I come across anything like that I'll let you know. > > I keep a list of Zaurus related links on > http://www.linwin.com/zaurus/index.html > > Rafael > > On Fri, Aug 23, 2002 at 08:17:13AM -0400, rick watson wrote: > > Hi Everyone, > > > > I am comfortable using linux on a server. I have installed the speakup > > package. > > > > After briefly looking at the blinux archive, it appears that some of you > are > > experimenting with handheld devices. > > > > I am interested in getting a handheld which talks. Could you please > provide > > experiences. I realize that this will most likely involve installing > > software. This should be no problem. I want to have some good ideas before > I > > invest money in a handheld. > > > > > > > > Good or BAD experiences are welcome!! > > > > thanks > > > > Rick > >