Hi Tom, Unfortunately as I'm not a braille user (in the computer sense) I am a bit biased, but having said that, I think braille device support is an equally important feature. Apologies for leaving that out of my initial message! Thanks, Ivan. On Wed, 12 Nov 2003, Tom Masterson wrote: > I would only be interested if it alos fully supported braille. > > Tom > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Ivan Fetch" <lists@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > To: <blinux-list@xxxxxxxxxx> > Sent: Tuesday, November 11, 2003 15:28 > Subject: More Extensive Screen Reader > > > > Hello, > > > > I've been thinking about a screen reader for Unix which would have the > > following characteristics: > > * The binary will interact directly with a synthesizer, or will > > interact with a speech server (over TCP, UDP, or a Unix socket). The > > speech server can be a kind of traffic cop to help prioritize speech from > > multiple consoles, or even multiple computers wanting to use the same > > speech device. > > * The screen reader can be run from a shell, or can be combined with an > > optional kernel module to provide additional functionality (boot messages, > > use of virtual consoles in some cases). Access to boot messages will > > probably need to be accomplished using a hardware synthesizer, with the > > optional ability to switch to another synthesizer once the operating > > system has loaded. > > * Supports a variety of Unixes (Linux, Free/Open/NetBSD, Solaris). > > > > Some of the screen readers developed for Linux have subsets of the > > functionality discussed above, but in some cases it appears development > > significantly slows down or stops once the software fits the particular > > setup of the author(s). My goal is to have a screen reader which is more > > actively developed (no offense to the folks out there who have, and > > continue to, do great development work) and supports a wider variety of > > options (quality of interaction with synthesizers, operating systems, > > kernel module not required if the screen reader is to be used for > > production machines). > > > > What I'd like to know from the members of this list, is whether you > > would like to see a screen reader that's more flexible as I've outlined > > above, or whether you are content with what you are currently using? > > Where I am going with this, is that I would like to do what I can for > > increasing the development of such a more flexible / feature rich screen > > reader. One of the ideas I have been pondering is actually hiring some > > folks to help with development, possibly funding through grants. I'm > > obviously in the "market research" stage at this point (don't get scared > > at the use of the term, I want the screen reader to remain free) and am in > > the opinion gathering stages. > > > > Thanks for any feedback, > > Ivan Fetch. > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > > Blinux-list@xxxxxxxxxx > > https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Blinux-list@xxxxxxxxxx > https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list > _______________________________________________ Blinux-list@xxxxxxxxxx https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list