Slashdot Mirror
Skipper Accessibility Suite 1.6.0 Released
Semi-Anonymous Reader writes "Skipper 1.6.0 is a GPLed Linux accessibility suite for the severely physically disabled - cerebral palsy, road traffic accidents, motor neuron disease, Parkinsons etc. It takes input from multiple devices like graphics tablets and microswitches connected directly to the printer port, does input switching and processing (configured graphically like modular synthesisers), and provides clever genetically annealed menu systems for application and desktop control. With just one detectable click, people can have full Web and email access - in fact the whole Linux desktop - in complete privacy. Now the problem's getting it to people who need it. Charities and institutions think physical, Windows and money, so it's down to the geeks. Set up a kid near you this Fall - they might not be the next Einstein or Mozart, but you'll be giving them a lifetime of education, activity, self-expression and self-determination."
As it were, they just might be the next Stephen Hawking.
Ya never know.
KFG
Having people sit at home is never good for an economy. If governments can get handicapped people to be (more) integrated and thus more productive, they can save a lot on welfare and such. Plus the people themselves will feel stronger because they participate in society.
Having a handicapped person in the family can be very taxing. Being ill is not easy, and the situation can lead to psycho-sociological problems. The more the person can do for him/herself, the better the family will function as a whole.Remember, even psycho-sociological problems will cost (the family and society) real money.
been there.
Yes, I agree Microsoft the Corporation does something like this but not Microsoft the community.
Big difference.
I love the smell of Karma in the morning
The Win32 accessibility API sucks. Massively. It doesn't work as documented, and even if it did it would be less capable than the Gnome one. I've been working on integrating Dasher (site possibly down at the moment due to a power cut) into the accessibility functions available. Gnome was a piece of cake. Win32 was pain beyond belief.
unfortunately, the accessibility support for Gnome is only half of the story. There are many more people out there who suffer from "slight" mobility impairments like RSI, arthritis, and other problems of the hands or arms. These impairments keep them from using a keyboard to a significant degree and circus tricks like unicorn stakes or paddles are so inefficient as to be not worth using.
These people need speech recognition and full featured speech recognition like that provided by NaturallySpeaking. The current demonstration recognizers like Sphinx don't come anywhere near the capabilities needed by handicapped users.
today, these people cope by walking away from computers, getting keyboard slaves to type for them, or by using Windows.
The needs of these people have been ignored because they are silent unlike the blind community. They are silent because the chronic pain and day-to-day struggle to make a living leaves no energy for advocacy but this does not make their needs any less important.
Linux will not be completely handicapped accessible until you can operate the system either by discovering your monitor and listening or by discarding your keyboard and speaking.
(This message written using Windows-based speech recognition)