Re: An Accessible Adobe Reader for Linux

["Laura Eaves" <leaves1@carolina.rr.com>]

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@rednote.net>
To: "Speakup is a screen review system for Linux." <speakup@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@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@freestandards.org http://a11y.org

If Linux can't solve your computing problem, you need a different problem.


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