Speech-friendly Lynx configuration

Speech-friendly Lynx configuration

[ddunfee..]

hello,

because the lynx.cfg is a text file, it should be easy to do a batch file
that allows the user to choose options.   the choice could then be appended
to the end of the lynx.cfg file.   each item should be discussed in detail
to assist the choice.   for example, if one chooses numbered links, the
option of using the number pad as navigation keys is lost.   i like this
option because it puts web and page navigation in one place for the right
hand alone and i don't like the aditional chatter of numbered links.

you might also consider using an alias to start lynx.  there are several
items which can be chosen from the command line at start up.  these too
might be chosen using a configuration batch file or shell script.  an
example of this is the number of web pages to cache in memory for instant
return without downloading again. 

"Nothing needs so reforming as other people's habits." -- Mark Twain

Re: Speech-friendly Lynx configuration

[Geoff Shang]

On Thu, 25 May 2000, ddunfee.. wrote:

> hello,
> 
> because the lynx.cfg is a text file, it should be easy to do a batch file
> that allows the user to choose options.   the choice could then be appended
> to the end of the lynx.cfg file.   each item should be discussed in detail
> to assist the choice.   for example, if one chooses numbered links, the
> option of using the number pad as navigation keys is lost.   i like this
> option because it puts web and page navigation in one place for the right
> hand alone and i don't like the aditional chatter of numbered links.

You lose this functionality though anyway since speakup hogs the numpad,
numlock on or off.  As far as using a script to configure lynx is
concerned, this would seem to me to be overkill as comments in the file
ought to be sufficient.  If they aren't, surely it would be easier to add
to these comments rather than spend ages writing a script to essentially do
the same job.

Geoff.

Re: Speech-friendly Lynx configuration

[Janina Sajka]

I would suggest becoming more familiar with Lynx before jumping to these
"fixes." I say this because what you suggest can already be accomplished
far more easily through existing tools.

I guess today is my day for chiding MS Windows/DOS people to give up their
Redmont thinking at the unix door. This is not that country and these are
not those customs. I submit the cultural analogy is apt. Please learn more
about the customs and usages of unix/linux before trying to make it look
and act like Windows/DOS.

This is not to say that everything about Windows/DOS is awful. But, then
there is a reason why most of us have moved away. On Thu, 25 May 2000,
ddunfee.. wrote:

> hello,
> 
> because the lynx.cfg is a text file, it should be easy to do a batch file
> that allows the user to choose options.   the choice could then be appended
> to the end of the lynx.cfg file.   each item should be discussed in detail
> to assist the choice.   for example, if one chooses numbered links, the
> option of using the number pad as navigation keys is lost.   i like this
> option because it puts web and page navigation in one place for the right
> hand alone and i don't like the aditional chatter of numbered links.
> 
> you might also consider using an alias to start lynx.  there are several
> items which can be chosen from the command line at start up.  these too
> might be chosen using a configuration batch file or shell script.  an
> example of this is the number of web pages to cache in memory for instant
> return without downloading again. 
> 
> "Nothing needs so reforming as other people's habits." -- Mark Twain
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Speakup mailing list
> Speakup@braille.uwo.ca
> http://speech.braille.uwo.ca/mailman/listinfo/speakup
> 

-- 

				Janina Sajka, Director
				Information Systems Research & Development
				American Foundation for the Blind (AFB)

janina@afb.net

Speech-friendly Lynx configuration

[Matthew Campbell]

I'm working on the next version of the ZipSpeak distribution, and I
would like to include a modified Lynx configuration file that makes
Lynx more speech-friendly.  I will definitely modify it so that the
cursor is next to the currently selected link, instead of being in the
bottom-right corner of the screen.  However, there are some other
things I want some input on.

Should links be numbered?  Should form fields be numbered?

Does color matter at all?  I'm guessing it doesn't, except for people
with low vision who may be using speech as well.

Should I set the user level to advanced so that Lynx doesn't put
instructions on the last two lines of the screen?  The .lynxrc file on
the Blinux site does this, but I'm wondering if that would be a
disadvantage for people who are not only new Linux users but new Lynx
users as well.

Have I forgotten anything?

Thanks,
-- 
Matt Campbell <mattcamp@crosswinds.net>
Web site:  http://www.crosswinds.net/~mattcamp/
ICQ #:  33005941

Re: Speech-friendly Lynx configuration

[Jacob Schmude]

Hi Matt
	Here's my input.
show cursor: absolutely
numbered links: yes
numbered form fields: no
color: doesn't matter
advanced user mode: yes because those instructions will change sometimes
and thus obstruct the speech.
	Here are some things I think you forgot:
show images: ignore
verbose images: off
	These two options will prevent the .gif filename being displayed
while reading the page, and only image links will be recognized. No image
alt tags that are not links will be displayed, this can help the
readibility of the page.

	I have one more thing that could be of consideration. Compile your
own lynx, identical to slackware's version,but when typing ./configure
include:
--disable-forms-options
This will simply use the old-style option menu, which I think is easier to
use than the forms-based one.
	I know you don't like to deviate from standard zipslack, but the
disabling of the forms-based options menu would probably help other people
use it more effectively.

	That's just my $0.02 worth.


On Wed, 24 May 2000, Matthew Campbell wrote:

> I'm working on the next version of the ZipSpeak distribution, and I
> would like to include a modified Lynx configuration file that makes
> Lynx more speech-friendly.  I will definitely modify it so that the
> cursor is next to the currently selected link, instead of being in the
> bottom-right corner of the screen.  However, there are some other
> things I want some input on.
> 
> Should links be numbered?  Should form fields be numbered?
> 
> Does color matter at all?  I'm guessing it doesn't, except for people
> with low vision who may be using speech as well.
> 
> Should I set the user level to advanced so that Lynx doesn't put
> instructions on the last two lines of the screen?  The .lynxrc file on
> the Blinux site does this, but I'm wondering if that would be a
> disadvantage for people who are not only new Linux users but new Lynx
> users as well.
> 
> Have I forgotten anything?
> 
> Thanks,
> -- 
> Matt Campbell <mattcamp@crosswinds.net>
> Web site:  http://www.crosswinds.net/~mattcamp/
> ICQ #:  33005941
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Speakup mailing list
> Speakup@braille.uwo.ca
> http://speech.braille.uwo.ca/mailman/listinfo/speakup
> 

Jacob Schmude
mailto:jacobs@ncinter.net
ICQ: 53401220

Re: Speech-friendly Lynx configuration

[David Poehlman]

hi mat!
this is actually kind of tough.  There are some things that will suite some
and some for others.  I would suggest putting a little readme file in that
tells users what the rc is set to aand a bit about the options.  I say this
because I for one would like to know before I crawl through it what settings
have been done.  oh, you might want to set cookies to persistant.  This way,
we don't have to always accept them.  does anyone actually reject cookies?
Thanks!
-- 
Hands-On Technolog(eye)s
ftp://poehlman.clark.net
http://poehlman.clark.net
mailto:poehlman@clark.net
voice 301-949-7599
end sig.

Re: Speech-friendly Lynx configuration

[Janina Sajka]

Crawl through it. The lynx.cfg files are self-documenting. This means
that each feature is explained in text above the line that actually
configures Lynx. This is standard operating procedure in many unix
situations. Don't expect unix culture to follow windows' cultural
practices. That ain't gonna happen.

On Thu, 25 May
2000, David Poehlman wrote:

> hi mat!
> this is actually kind of tough.  There are some things that will suite some
> and some for others.  I would suggest putting a little readme file in that
> tells users what the rc is set to aand a bit about the options.  I say this
> because I for one would like to know before I crawl through it what settings
> have been done.  oh, you might want to set cookies to persistant.  This way,
> we don't have to always accept them.  does anyone actually reject cookies?
> Thanks!
> 

-- 

				Janina Sajka, Director
				Information Systems Research & Development
				American Foundation for the Blind (AFB)

janina@afb.net