Yes, linux and unix have always been more accessible because they are not GUI, and I assume the console is text based and not graphical -- or am I wrong? the last time I used a unix/linux system was in the mid 90s and most all work was done command-line. I have joined this list as I am getting a second pc in order to install and use linux for various reasons, and I want to check out all the accessibility advancements since I moved to a windows environment. But just as sighted linux users dismiss the console interface, as you say, I think it is equally inappropriate for a blind user to completely ignore the GNOME GUI approach, and trying to make it accessible, as running a GUI actually is a little more than just a bunch of icons covering up the same operations -- the whole underpinning is implemented in an even-driven manner and there is a different way of thinking of things -- well actually I rejected GUI's for a very long time at work because I still had enough sight to use screen mag for work, and could not use the GUI stuff when it reared its ugly head... but after I lost my reading vision and switched to windows -- partly to get experienced using speech and partly because I was curious about its accessibility, I have actually gotten to like some of its aspects, and can see that if made accessible, it is actually rather nice. But I still miss unix extremely, and the flexibility, and the power of things and clean way it handles system operations compared with windows... Sorry I didn't mean to get off on this thread -- I guess I just wanted to make the point that I am glad for the diversion I made into GUI apps and am actually glad (if you can believe it) that I lost my vision in order to force me to stop depending on it, and with my programming background I think GUI programs can be very useful and accessible. But there has to be a way to access the same functionality from the gui -- to get back to command line when necessary, query for available commands and docs, run scripts, etc. That is possible in windows but so much more awkward! It is truely a straight jacket compared to linux. Take care and I have enjoyed lurking on this list. I am learning a lot about speakup, which is why I joined. Take care. --le ----- Original Message ----- From: "Janina Sajka" <janina@xxxxxxxxxxx> To: "Speakup is a screen review system for Linux." <speakup at braille.uwo.ca> Sent: Tuesday, January 11, 2005 4:58 PM Subject: Re: An Accessible Adobe Reader for Linux Linux accessibility, at least for users who are blind, is far more impressive on the console. In fact, it's extremely impressive on the console rivaling, and even surpassing, many things that users of expensive proprietary-ware applications have. The biggest thing wrong with the console is in fact the very negative and dismissive attitude that many GUI people seem to have of it. Chris Gray writes: > At best, MSAA mode was little more than a bandage. Let's hope that > something more positive can come out of Longhorn. One of the primary > reasons I am setting up a Linux box is to check out Gnome; what I've > seen so far of its access is quite impressive though it has a ways to > go for certain. > > Chris > > > > _______________________________________________ > Speakup mailing list > Speakup at braille.uwo.ca > http://speech.braille.uwo.ca/mailman/listinfo/speakup -- Janina Sajka Phone: +1.202.494.7040 Partner, Capital Accessibility LLC http://www.CapitalAccessibility.Com Chair, Accessibility Workgroup Free Standards Group (FSG) janina at freestandards.org http://a11y.org If Linux can't solve your computing problem, you need a different problem. _______________________________________________ Speakup mailing list Speakup at braille.uwo.ca http://speech.braille.uwo.ca/mailman/listinfo/speakup
