From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 Received: from bay0-omc1-s22.bay0.hotmail.com ([65.54.246.94]) by speech.braille.uwo.ca with esmtp (Exim 3.36 #1 (Debian)) id 1Hzdhq-0006jj-00 for ; Sat, 16 Jun 2007 15:13:06 -0400 Received: from hotmail.com ([65.55.152.24]) by bay0-omc1-s22.bay0.hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC(6.0.3790.2668); Sat, 16 Jun 2007 12:12:35 -0700 Received: from mail pickup service by hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Sat, 16 Jun 2007 12:12:35 -0700 Message-ID: Received: from 71.111.96.206 by BAY141-DAV14.phx.gbl with DAV; Sat, 16 Jun 2007 19:12:31 +0000 X-Originating-IP: [71.111.96.206] X-Originating-Email: [z_kline@hotmail.com] X-Sender: z_kline@hotmail.com From: "Zachary Kline" To: "Speakup is a screen review system for Linux." Subject: My perspective on the console Date: Sat, 16 Jun 2007 12:12:27 -0700 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2900.3138 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.3138 X-OriginalArrivalTime: 16 Jun 2007 19:12:35.0705 (UTC) FILETIME=[4C45A690:01C7B04A] Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable X-Content-Filtered-By: Mailman/MimeDel 2.1.9 X-BeenThere: speakup@braille.uwo.ca X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.9 Precedence: list Reply-To: "Speakup is a screen review system for Linux." List-Id: "Speakup is a screen review system for Linux." List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Sat, 16 Jun 2007 19:13:06 -0000 Hiya, The recent discussions on Javascript, Flash, etc. have prompted me = to share a personal perspective on the Linux console. =20 I realize GUIs have long supplanted text interfaces for the sighted = user, and perhaps to a lesser extent for the blind user as well. I = note, for instance, the popularity of Jaws and similar on Windows. However, as someone who switched to Linux primarily because it was = text-based and different from what I was used to, I very much appreciate = the power of the console. Unix commands are cryptic, difficult to = comprehend sometimes without manpages or the like to deconstruct them. = Furthermore, unlike a Windows system, the graphical interface of Linux = is not an essential component of the system--it's just an added bit of = software on top of textual tools. I love the fact that with Speakup, = I'm able to read kernel messages, and even debug problems, before = anything more graphical than a colored 80X25 screen comes up. That all being said, some applications on the console are lacking. = Word processing, web browsing--yes, even with all the security = implications of Javascript which I don't know about, it does get used a = lot--and things like PDF viewers and such. There are textual tools to = accomplish some of that stuff, convert PDF, write formatted documents = (ala TeX), etc. I love all that power. Personally, I realize the future may lie in infinitely smaller = devices than a PC. But I love the Bash prompt, and hope it never goes = away. Sorry for the rambling nature of this email, folks. Yours, Zack.