I found the espeak-ng.conf file under etc. I changed the rate settings in that file, and nothing happened. I also found the same file right inside the ~/config directory. I changed that one too. My speech is still painfully slow! Nothing changed. Do I have to create all the folders for the original path that you gave me? Or is something wrong with the new rate values I used? I am stuck, and this simple thing really should not be this hard, especially since the first thing most of us do is adjust the speaking rate. I wish someone would explain what's up with that. Amanda[0] On 1/27/22, Linux for blind general discussion <blinux-list@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote: > 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 > > _______________________________________________ Blinux-list mailing list Blinux-list@xxxxxxxxxx https://listman.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list