Accessibility, what would the perfect blind Linux Desktop be like for you? - Feddit
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Accessibility is a really important field. Everyone should have the right to use a free and friendly Operating System. But its a pretty nieche topic, and I also think current ways of implementing it are not perfect. I created a Thread on Fedora Discussion (Link) but Lemmy is way more active so I would love to spread attention to this topic, and collect your ideas. - How should a blind Desktop be structured? - Are there any big dealbreakers like Wayland, TTS engines, specific applications e.g.? - What do you think would be the best base Desktop to build such a setup on? - Would you think an immutable, out of the box Distro like “Fedora Silversound”, with everything included, the best tools, presets, easy setup e.g. is a good idea? - How privacy-friendly can a usable blind Desktop be? Also, how would you like to call it? “A Talking Desktop”? I am excited for your comments!

I am very curious and want to help to make Linux more accessible.

I wrote with some people and got some insights:

  • everything text, like a read-mode-only browser or a plain Terminal is best for TTS engines.
  • TTS engines are difficult, some are really good but need many resources, some are worse but save resources
  • TTS needs to be optimized to be really fast in some cases, to keep up with the speed
  • some apps are better, some are worse, but probably most apps dont really suit blind people, as the whole GUI concept makes no sense

I am really curious. How would it be best for you, braille vs. voice, voice input vs braille vs. gestures?

What apps do you find best, how do you browse the web, find media to listen, how do you use Document editors and what purpose do they have for you?

Thanks a lot!

  • Pantherina@feddit.deOPEnglish
    2·
    1 year ago

    This is a very good point. So the basic issues should be fixed, creating the foundations for blind people to easily improve it.

    For example espeak would need actually understandable voices, sound would need to work always even if everything breaks, Wayland support would need to work somehow.

    But to be honest, I have no idea how a blind person works on translating something to speech/braille that is not accessible? Like, how do they know its even there?

    • Samuel ProulxMAEnglish
      3·
      1 year ago

      It happens in a few ways. First, by examining the sourcecode when available. However, blind programmers talented enough to do this generally have paid, closed source work they’re busy with. Second, when a platform has accessibility API’s, it’s at least easy to get the outline of a system, and determine what’s not working. Third, of course, commercial grants for paid work. In the case of Windows, many corporations pay a lot of money to make sure Windows is accessible, so it can be used in schools, governments, and workplaces. This kind of money just hasn’t been invested in the Linux desktop ecosystem. As well, in a centralized closed-source system, it’s easier to force everyone to follow various coding requirements. In the case of Linux, who has the power to push through the infrastructural changes we’re talking about? Oracle/Gnome, I guess? But there’s a bunch of work the distros also need to do. Unlike in Apple or Microsoft, it’s not just a matter of getting the “CEO of Linux” (not a real position) convinced that accessibility matters and she should invest in it.