Hi Amanda, Assuming you are using Espeak-ng (the default), you can speed up Orca's speech by editing the file ~/.config/speech-dispatcher/modules/espeak-ng.conf. Look for lines starting with "EspeakMinRate", "EspeakNormalRate", and "EspeakMaxRate". The values are in words per minute. Adjust them to your preference and let us know if it helps. Now for my Linux story: I started using Linux in 2006, when I was still in high school. I was very much interested in Unix, so I first experimented with Cygwin, and later ordered an Ubuntu live CD via the post. A bit later I switched to Fedora Core 3 modified with Speakup, which was what I was using when the Windows half of my computer broke itself in 2008. I then decided to learn to do everything on Linux, rather than taking the trouble to fix Windows. Interestingly, when I applied to study Computer Science after school, one of the concerns of the University was that the CS degree required the use of Linux, and they were unsure how accessible that would be. Of course I was able to demonstrate to them how I actually use Linux, which made convincing them a bit easier. I must mention that at the time (and still to an extent), computer science was a degree really not often studied by blind people here in South Africa. For the most part I have now used Linux full time for about 14 years, though I do maintain a virtual machine with Windows 10 for the times when I have to test Windows software for my work. For me, the biggest advantage of Linux is customizability. I have my setup configured exactly how I want it, for instance: a screen session on console 1, Emacs with Emacspeak on console 2, and graphical stuff on console 6. My text consoles are configured to be huge, since the character size makes no difference to me, and I would rather have to scroll less. The times I have to boot up my virtual machine, I am surprised by how different the experience is, with multiple pre-installed services immediately demanding my attention, asking me to sign into cloud services, and performing background tasks which I did not order, but with no easy way of disabling. That said, had I been a full time Windows user, I probably would have known how to configure Windows exactly how I want it as well, so I guess a big part of it is also what one is used to and comfortable with. Regards, Rynhardt On Thu, Jan 27, 2022 at 5:43 AM Linux for blind general discussion < blinux-list@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote: > > Dang, y'all are old! > > I'm in a Computer Science graduate program. It's practically required > that I have a Linux machine. I don't use it Linux exclusively. In > fact, I just got this Ubuntu machine that I am on now. Why is Orca's > speech so slow? I have it sped up to 100%, and it's still way too > slow! Speaking of customization, the NVDA screen reader on windows > allows me to set the speech rate to a level that is comfortable for > me. > > Amanda[0] > > On 1/26/22, Linux for blind general discussion <blinux-list@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote: > > I use linux exclusively and for several reasons. > > > > 1. I worked in Unix and SunOS since 1986. So Linux was a familiar > > environment > > to transition into. > > > > 2. Because once I get it to work, it works. That keyboard configuration I > > mentioned > > occurred years ago and I haven't touched it since not even when I switched > > to a different machine. Not even when I switched to different keyboards. > > Not even when I switched to different versions of Linux. > > > > 3. Linux does what I want without backtalk, second guessing, ads, unwanted > > upgrading, or mysterious crashes. > > > > > > 4. Linux trades learning for power and flexibility. > > The few times I tried learning Windows I quickly grew frustrated at just > > how limited the software was and > > how it forced the user to do things its way instead of letting me do them MY > > way. > > I spent more time fighting with windows than getting things done. > > > > 5. Everyone I know who uses Windows, spends far too much time complaining > > about windows, fixing the > > many problems windows causes by its quirks, arcane mysteries, shortcomings, > > and built in faults, > > so I see no reason to give it yet another try. > > > > On Wed, Jan 26, 2022 at 09:19:09PM -0500, Linux for blind general discussion > > wrote: > >> Okay then, > >> This illustrates another point which got touched on in a different > >> thread > >> as well. > >> The, you must be prepared to do programming if you are going to use Linux > >> fluidly, if at all. > >> On an entirely different list I am on, folks were complaining about > >> windows > >> 10 and windows 11, because of the changes. > >> Computers are increasingly such critical parts of our lives, banking > >> shopping, even voting, that many on the list spoke of just wanting to sit > >> down at their computer and have things work...so they still use older > >> editions of things like Windows XP? and Windows 7. > >> I admit that is part of why the out of the box concept discussed here > >> where > >> Access is concerned seems a bit, speaking personally, like a > >> misconception. > >> Few on the list I referenced above are using adaptive tools, and some of > >> them are scientists, with many not wanting configuring to be a part of > >> their > >> computer lives. > >> So, why do you use Linux? > >> what makes it worth the time the training and the trial / error? > >> Oh, and is it your only operating system? > >> Want to ask the latter because I know someone who indeed uses Linux > >> exclusively, vowing never to touch windows again. > >> Please feel free to express in detail, never mind my personal situation, > >> because the journalist in me is interested as well. > >> Karen > >> > >> > >> > >> On Wed, 26 Jan 2022, Linux for blind general discussion wrote: > >> > >> > Fair point. > >> > > >> > As regards the keyboard, I agree with the main keyboard philosophy, and > >> > in fact speakup does allow you to customize it to use the main keyboard > >> > instead of the > >> > keypad. However, it took me a while to customize it to my liking and > >> > required quite a bit of study and generating of personal keymaps, so > >> > might not be of any interest to those who aren't comfortable making > >> > some low level modifications. > >> > > >> > On Wed, Jan 26, 2022 at 08:16:08PM -0500, Linux for blind general > >> > discussion wrote: > >> > > Which may illustrate my point. > >> > > I can use those without changing what I have now. > >> > > Speaking personally if Linux does not provide equal access to both > >> > > hardware > >> > > and software speech, in both its command line and graphical > >> > > platforms, I am > >> > > unsure just where the advantage is for me personally. > >> > > One thing I personally disliked with speakup, at least the times I > >> > > tried it > >> > > years back was the need to remove my hands from the keyboard for many > >> > > things. > >> > > That may not hold true all the way around, but I am a solid typist and > >> > > do > >> > > not like having to remove may hands, say use the number pad, if I want > >> > > as I > >> > > work content. > >> > > That is me though, which is one magical thing about personal > >> > > computers. > >> > > everyone brings their desires and usage goals to their machines. > >> > > Which to my mind again personally means Linux should, if it actually > >> > > can, be > >> > > flexible enough for all choices to work in it command line and > >> > > graphical. > >> > > Karen > >> > > > >> > > > >> > > > >> > > On Wed, 26 Jan 2022, Linux for blind general discussion wrote: > >> > > > >> > > > I don't use Firefox. I use a text based browser, either lynx, w3m, > >> > > > or links (the chain) depending. > >> > > > > >> > > > On Wed, Jan 26, 2022 at 07:48:42PM -0500, Linux for blind general > >> > > > discussion wrote: > >> > > > > Rudy, > >> > > > > As an example, may I ask what edition of Firefox you are running > >> > > > > with that > >> > > > > dectalk Express? > >> > > > > Karen > >> > > > > > >> > > > > > >> > > > > > >> > > > > On Wed, 26 Jan 2022, Linux for blind general discussion wrote: > >> > > > > > >> > > > > > Karen, > >> > > > > > I use Linux speakup with a Dectalk express speech synthesizer. > >> > > > > > And I believe speakup also handles the > >> > > > > > slot card version of dectalk though you'll need a desktop PC > >> > > > > > that supports it, so the software is there. > >> > > > > > > >> > > > > > > >> > > > > > Rudy > >> > > > > > > >> > > > > > On Wed, Jan 26, 2022 at 05:22:35PM -0500, Linux for blind > >> > > > > > general discussion wrote: > >> > > > > > > Kyle, > >> > > > > > > i do not consider my hardware decktalk provided via my reading > >> > > > > > > edge to be an > >> > > > > > > example of text to speech. > >> > > > > > > By definition, and there are many, the term, which refers to > >> > > > > > > taking > >> > > > > > > information in text format and rendering it aloud does not, > >> > > > > > > speaking > >> > > > > > > personally, equal pronunciation ease. > >> > > > > > > In fact one theory about this has to do with preserving the > >> > > > > > > audiobook > >> > > > > > > market. > >> > > > > > > granted, as was pointed out in a thread some time ago, I am > >> > > > > > > not likely to > >> > > > > > > learn about Linux screen readers, no driver exists for my > >> > > > > > > hardware speech, > >> > > > > > > and software synthesizer sources currently do a number on my > >> > > > > > > brain. > >> > > > > > > Karen > >> > > > > > > > >> > > > > > > > >> > > > > > > > >> > > > > > > On Wed, 26 Jan 2022, Linux for blind general discussion > >> > > > > > > wrote: > >> > > > > > > > >> > > > > > > > That being said, the audiophile in me cannot resist pointing > >> > > > > > > > out that > >> > > > > > > > pronunciation abilities of tts are of far less quality than > >> > > > > > > > those > >> > > > > > > > provided by many actual screen readers, at least the ones I > >> > > > > > > > have > >> > > > > > > > used...which???? does not include any for Linux. > >> > > > > > > > > >> > > > > > > > > >> > > > > > > > That being said, the technofile in me cannot resist pointing > >> > > > > > > > out the > >> > > > > > > > fact that every screen reader for every OS uses nothing but > >> > > > > > > > TTS > >> > > > > > > > technology to read the screen. Well, I guess BeMyEyes > >> > > > > > > > doesn't, but it's > >> > > > > > > > not exactly a screen reader, unless you need the volunteer > >> > > > > > > > to read a > >> > > > > > > > screen for you. > >> > > > > > > > > >> > > > > > > > ~ Kyle > >> > > > > > > > > >> > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > >> > > > > > > > Blinux-list mailing list > >> > > > > > > > Blinux-list@xxxxxxxxxx > >> > > > > > > > https://listman.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list > >> > > > > > > > > >> > > > > > > >> > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > >> > > > > > > Blinux-list mailing list > >> > > > > > > Blinux-list@xxxxxxxxxx > >> > > > > > > https://listman.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list > >> > > > > > > >> > > > > > > >> > > > > > -- > >> > > > > > Rudy Vener > >> > > > > > Website: http://www.rudyvener.com > >> > > > > > Twitter: https://twitter.com/RudySalt > >> > > > > > The difference between truth and falsehood is that truth remains > >> > > > > > constant no matter which political party holds the majority. > >> > > > > > - A. R. Vener > >> > > > > > > >> > > > > > _______________________________________________ > >> > > > > > Blinux-list mailing list > >> > > > > > Blinux-list@xxxxxxxxxx > >> > > > > > https://listman.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list > >> > > > > > > >> > > > > > > >> > > > > > >> > > > > _______________________________________________ > >> > > > > Blinux-list mailing list > >> > > > > Blinux-list@xxxxxxxxxx > >> > > > > https://listman.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list > >> > > > > >> > > > -- > >> > > > Rudy Vener > >> > > > Website: http://www.rudyvener.com > >> > > > Twitter: https://twitter.com/RudySalt > >> > > > The difference between truth and falsehood is that truth remains > >> > > > constant no matter which political party holds the majority. > >> > > > - A. R. Vener > >> > > > > >> > > > _______________________________________________ > >> > > > Blinux-list mailing list > >> > > > Blinux-list@xxxxxxxxxx > >> > > > https://listman.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list > >> > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > >> > > _______________________________________________ > >> > > Blinux-list mailing list > >> > > Blinux-list@xxxxxxxxxx > >> > > https://listman.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list > >> > > >> > -- > >> > Rudy Vener > >> > Website: http://www.rudyvener.com > >> > Twitter: https://twitter.com/RudySalt > >> > The difference between truth and falsehood is that truth remains > >> > constant no matter which political party holds the majority. > >> > - A. R. Vener > >> > > >> > _______________________________________________ > >> > Blinux-list mailing list > >> > Blinux-list@xxxxxxxxxx > >> > https://listman.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list > >> > > >> > > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> Blinux-list mailing list > >> Blinux-list@xxxxxxxxxx > >> https://listman.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list > > > > -- > > Rudy Vener > > Website: http://www.rudyvener.com > > Twitter: https://twitter.com/RudySalt > > The difference between truth and falsehood is that truth remains constant no > > matter which political party holds the majority. > > - A. R. Vener > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Blinux-list mailing list > > Blinux-list@xxxxxxxxxx > > https://listman.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Blinux-list mailing list > Blinux-list@xxxxxxxxxx <Blinux-list@xxxxxxxxxx> > https://listman.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list <https://listman.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list> > _______________________________________________ Blinux-list mailing list Blinux-list@xxxxxxxxxx https://listman.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list