Hi Rob. Let me try to answer some of your questions. As to why Speakup doesn't support software synths, its bc it just wouldn't be viable for the time being. The main problem is that sound drivers and other drivers for such devices as usb port hubs don't load until the filesystems have been mounted. This is particularly a problem for a user who wants or needs to see all of the hardware boot messages. They wouldn't be able to read them. Second, if they got a kernel panic for whatever reason i.e., bad root fs, or other type of misconfiguration, the user would never know about it if they were using a software sollution. In terms of GPL options for screen readers for Windows. There are none as far as I know. There is of course the freedom box, which may be a viable sollution in your case. If you want to stay out of the realm of micro$, Linux is perhaps a good possibility. There are many good mail readers such as Pine Elm etc. You probably know this already bc you're running Slackware? You can write me privately at igueths at attbi.com if you have any further questions. Gates go to hell, your OS is waiting for you there! On Fri, 7 Jun 2002, AthlonRob wrote: > Hi- > > I have a friend who is completely blind. She *really* wants to get online and have direct access to email, at the very least. Currently, her husband is having to read all the information to her after he downloads it in Windows 95. > > We have three laptops they could use. One is based on a Cyrix MediaGX 233, another a Pentium II 266, and the third a 486 DX4/75. I am currently running Slackware on the Pentium II system without any problems. > > Now... JAWS, it seems, would cost them several hundred dollars. This simply isn't an option; they don't have enough money to rationalize spending that much just for her to be able to read/listen to their email herself. There was another Windows screenreader which, if I remember correctly, was just as expensive. > > Are our options any better in the GNU/Linux realm? I've seen mention of software synthesizers for Linux, but no mention of screenreaders to go with them... if that is an issue? I also read Speakup will not work with a software synthesizer, but don't understand why not, if they're available. Are the hardware synthesizers that are compatable with Speakup able to interface with the main system via either PCMCIA, serial/parrallel ports, or USB ports? How expensive would such a thing be... and where would I look to buy one? > > I really really want to help her out. Money is definitely limited, though. I do hope there are some GPL options available out there for folks in a situation like this... > > Thank you for any input/direction you are able to give me! > > Rob >
