From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 Return-Path: Received: from mail.redhat.com (mail.redhat.com [199.183.24.239]) by listman.redhat.com (Postfix) with ESMTP id BB8642F202 for ; Fri, 10 Nov 2000 11:57:50 -0500 (EST) Received: (from mail@localhost) by mail.redhat.com (8.11.0/8.8.7) id eAAGvoc13638 for blinux-list@listman.redhat.com; Fri, 10 Nov 2000 11:57:50 -0500 Received: from europe.std.com (europe.std.com [199.172.62.20]) by mail.redhat.com (8.11.0/8.8.7) with ESMTP id eAAGvoD13634 for ; Fri, 10 Nov 2000 11:57:50 -0500 Received: from world.std.com (aeryadne@world-f.std.com [199.172.62.5]) by europe.std.com (8.9.3/8.9.3) with ESMTP id LAA04734 for ; Fri, 10 Nov 2000 11:57:47 -0500 (EST) Received: from localhost (aeryadne@localhost) by world.std.com (8.9.3/8.9.3) with SMTP id LAA18808 for ; Fri, 10 Nov 2000 11:57:44 -0500 (EST) Date: Fri, 10 Nov 2000 11:57:43 -0500 (EST) From: kestrell To: Blinux Subject: Re: FAQ Suggestions/Perceptions from a Novice--worth 2 cents. In-Reply-To: <200011100040.QAA06810@sugarbeet.ultimanet.com> Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII X-Loop: blinux-list@redhat.com Sender: blinux-list-admin@redhat.com Errors-To: blinux-list-admin@redhat.com X-BeenThere: blinux-list@redhat.com X-Mailman-Version: 2.0beta4 Precedence: bulk Reply-To: blinux-list@redhat.com List-Id: Linux for blind general discussion I think Gary offered a great manifesto for the newbie blind linux user. I also have the greatest respect for the other members of this list, and the amazing things they do, but also feel, as a true newbie even after a year of reading not only this list but the newbie list and the redhat list and a couple of others, along with reading about a couple hundred documents and websites, that there is a huge gap in the information needed for a beginner to actually begin. I use linx also, not because I don't have an alternative--I have a windows 95 machine, which I also taught myself, along with 3.1 and before that DOS--but because it is far quicker and cleaner than the graphical browsers, which is also the opinion of many sighted geeks I've met. I have the resource of knowing many sighted gurus who could help with linux, but they are not familiar with my screen reader, or using speech technology for all aps, and getting a linux box up and running has been a year-long project. I taught myself what I need to know to be functionally literate in UNIX and HTML, and am learning PERL, but the linux docs have been particularly dense as far as where a beginner cac crash-course in learning linux. The reason I am writing this email, which I am trying not to let too much of my own frustration seep into, is that the reason I got interested in linux is that I felt it would be an incredible freeing OS for the blind computer user. I still believe that, but I also believe there is a desperate need to make the learning process more accessible. Less esoteric documentation with step-by-step lists would not be, I think, a matter of "dumbing down" for ppl who are already using complicated speech and braille technology, but might prove to convert many computer users who want to have an alternative to the mainstream hardware and software but are intimidated by what seems a lot of geekspeak. Lastly, I would like to reiterate that I admire all the ppl who have put so much time and energy into the linux movement, and none of my comments are meant to detract from them or what has already been done. k