http://www.linuxmall.com/news/features/000313_Blinux.php3 carries the following article: Feeling Your Way Through Linux By Michelle Head If "the blind leading the blind" sounds like an inefficient way of getting things done, you are definitely not looking at the FAQ or usergroup page for BLinux. The innovative and cooperative spirit of Open Source is illustrated best by a group like BLinux (or Blind + Linux). BLinux and its related pages, BLinux-list and BLinux-announce runneth over with questions, comments and tips from all kinds of users and specialists. Visually impaired users or sighted friends who assist them mine that source of information constantly, finding new solutions to old problems in Open Source style. The BLinux-announce mailing list heralds new software that can be downloaded and concerns about new products can be addressed. The FAQ page is informative enough to give anyone an idea of what Linux has to offer the blind or visually impaired user. And if you need to ask questions, get referrals to other sites or just feel like spouting off, BLinux-list is the place for you. The site addresses individual speech synthesizers, braille terminals, screen readers and text editors. Since braille and speech synthesizing software are available but no single composite system for the visually impaired user currently exits, the site instead provides a wealth of downloadable software as well as information on compiling a complete system tailored to the needs of the individual Linux user. Combinations of different brands and types of equipment are discussed in terms of compatibility and effectiveness. In this respect, Linux's flexibility enables the user to configure the differing units required by the computer to his/her own needs. One BLinux-list member mentioned that changing the "inner workings of any OS component to suit one's liking...brands one as a hacker at best, and probably a cracker. It will take some time, therefore, for the Windows refugee to get accustomed to the idea that this is not blasphemous, let alone that it is accepted and even expected." Expected, at least, among the visually impaired, who are finding that Linux is a great solution to their unique problems. The BLinux administrator regularly updates the information on the list; most recently, addresses for new pages about Emacspeak at the BLinux site appeared on the email list as well. Emacspeak is a speech interface that allows visually impaired users to interact with the computer. Emacspeak is also available free on the Internet. One page contained several printed-page-long contributions from various users explaining, in painstaking detail, the ins and outs of Emacspeak for anyone needing the information. Another BLinux-list member, a systems analyst from South America and long-time supporter of Open Source, mentioned that one of the major obstacles to computer accessibility for the blind is cost. "Currently a few of them are using JAWS/Win98, but most of (the blind) cannot afford the license cost. Another reason is that a lot of 486 PCs were donated, and I'm confident that using Linux/Emackspeak (sic) and a sound card the machine will be a very cheap option for a lot of people." Since Linux runs easily on older computers, this sounds like a perfect match. Linked to BLinux's Tips page is the home page of Jos Lemmens; among the products discussed here are Jabt, a program that displays information form the screen directly on the braille terminal, and Xabt, which reads information from the Linux xterm via vt100-emulation. Xabt also displays on the braille terminal. Both programs include a simple form of Screader, which reads the Linux virtual console screen and transmits information to a speech synthesizer. As stated on the home page, "the purpose of BLinux is to improve usability of the Linux operating system for the user who is blind." To this end, the site contains archives and distribution sites for related software and projects for continuing development. For those wishing to volunteer their talents in the development or testing of such software, project sites are also available at the bottom of the BLinux FAQ page. The site is http://www.leb.net/blinux/
