Gina's answer puts me in mind of a phenonomen at work among linux users for which there is no parallel. This is something only linux users do ... It is quite ordinary and common for one linux user to assist another linux user by logging onto the other machine through the Internet. Of course, that other user has to provide a root level account--meaning that the person coming in through the net has to be trusted. The point is that this is quite easy to do on linux. And, the result is that we can help each other out directly and quickly by making modifications that allow people to get maximum use from their linux computers quickly--before they've really learned how to deal with them themselves. I participated in such an exchange recently. I was in the U.K. recently on business. I arranged to drop by the home of an old friend and install linux on an old computer he had lyeing around. I partitioned the hard disk, and performed the installation. After rebooting and connecting to the network, I went back to my hotel to pack for my trip home to the States. A mutual colleague in Colorado continued the configuration of this new talking linux computer over the Internet--from 8 time zones away. I believe this kind of remote maintanance provides a new business opportunity for some of us to help others of us out. I believe it would be possible for someone to monitor the functionality of several hundred systems anywhere around the world via Internet, perhaps using some scripts to keep this task manageable. This remote service provider could be responsible for application upgrades, and various other system tasks involved in keeping talking computers working at optimal fuctionality. For this, they might get paid some modest sum monthly. I think those among us wo just want a working computer would pay something for that security. On Mon, 4 Feb 2002, Georgina wrote: > Hi > > Well here's my six pence worth! > > I listen to radio streams and record them to make wav and then mp3 files. > I record cassette tape recordings as wav and mp3 files. > I use SpeakFreely to chat with people around the world. > I use an irc client to chat with my local Linux User Group. > I log on to another user's machine in America and a group of us play monopoly. > I play hangman. > I'm learning postgresql. > I've shared files by allowing people to log into their account on my machine. > > Gena > > > > >Hello, > >There is a debate on blindprogramming about what blind people can use > >Linux for besides e-mail, surfing the Web, and writing programs (for > >Linux, of course). Personally, my business runs on e-mail andthe Web, so > >these were my major applications even in Windows. Others on > >blindprogramming have mentioned burning MP3 CD's. I'd like to be able to > >tell the list that blind people are using Linux for many productive > >purposes. If this is off-topic, please send me meail privately. > >Thanks. > >John > > > > > >-- > >Computers to Help People, Inc. > >http://www.chpi.org > >825 East Johnson; Madison, WI 53703 > > > > > > > > > >_______________________________________________ > > > >Blinux-list@redhat.com > >https://listman.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Blinux-list@redhat.com > https://listman.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list > -- Janina Sajka, Director Technology Research and Development Governmental Relations Group American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) Email: janina@afb.net Phone: (202) 408-8175 Chair, Accessibility SIG Open Electronic Book Forum (OEBF) http://www.openebook.org