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Accessibility In Linux Is Good (But Could Be Much Better)
An anonymous reader sends this report from opensource.com: GNU/Linux distributions provide great advantages over proprietary alternatives for people with disabilities. All the accessibility tools included in Linux are open source, meaning their code is readily available if you want to examine or improve it, and cost nothing. Hardware devices, of course, are still going to cost money. Additionally, accessibility software on other platforms generally contain licensing constraints on the user. ... When it comes to accessibility, Linux is not without issues. ... The number of developers who specifically work on accessibility tools is quite small. For example, there is only one Orca developer, two AT-SPI developers, and a single GTK developer. ... Developers who do not depend on assistive technologies tend to forget—or don't know—that a disabled person might want to use their application, read their web page, and so on. ... The problem is not necessarily that developers do not care. Rather, it's is that accessibility is highly specialized and requires someone with knowledge in the area, regardless of platform.
why not?
for the sake of children and disabled
The reality is, most developers have a fixed and small amount of time to develop product. They aren't going to work on features for 2% of people when features that 50% of people can use need work.
Mean what you say...say what you mean.
Just because it's open source doesn't mean it's great. I'd classify accessibility for blind/less sighted users to be non-existent (with the exception of a few applications). Every iteration of X Windows since X11 has been worse and worse with its implementation, and if things go wrong it is nearly impossible to get around. A few applications that implement the full GTK stack /properly/ are passable, but those that use Gnome's or KDE's tools don't pass text back to a speech engine at all.
Console is fine, but as soon as you try and use a tool that uses ncurses or any other menuing application you are SOL.
Firefox hasn't worked well with a screen reader in about 5 years. Never was able to get Chrome fully installed.
...there is only one Orca developer, two AT-SPI developers, and a single GTK developer.
Really? Only one person develops GTK? Who'd'a thunk?
You left out the part immediately before that.
"The number of developers who specifically work on accessibility tools is quite small. For example..."
However, the adoption of Linux within workplaces can certainly be constrained by, for example, ADA requirements. The lack of proper accessibility may ultimately prevent certain businesses or organizations from implementing Linux when it would otherwise be most preferable, simply because it does not satisfy their need for compliance. I'm sure you can see the potential ripple effects from that kind of restriction and how it might impact even those developers who do take accessibility needs into consideration.
I read both his articles, and they're actually about "which development environment for disabled users is more open-source friendly." What the fuck? Obviously, Linux is going to be, so what? And there isn't a single word about which is actually better for disabled people to use, so provide great advantages over proprietary alternatives for people with disabilities is an inaccurate way to summarize the article. Instead, it's some guy blindly pursuing some nerdy "open source is the best!" dialogue like it was 2003.
Slashdot: providing anti-social weirdos a soapbox, since 1997.
How accessible is the best open source dev suite?
"All the accessibility tools included in Linux are open source, meaning their code is readily available if you want to examine or improve it"
This "it's better because you can fix it yourself" is usually pretty dubious. In this case, it's worthless unless the folks who need the accessibility can work on it. What's the most accessible dev environment? Are its accessibility features usable? Does it support all developing all the tools that need improvement?
With that level of pedantry you must be quite a hit with the [your preferred gender].
systemd is Roko's Basilisk.
GNU/Linux distributions provide great advantages over proprietary alternatives for people with disabilities. All the accessibility tools included in Linux are open source, meaning their code is readily available if you want to examine or improve it, and cost nothing.
Because disabled people are so looking for a DIY solution. I'll give you the one about cost, but aids for the disabled are usually sold or given away far under their actual cost due to ideal organizations, corporate PR, government aid and so on unless you're making a business specifically for the disabled.
Developers who do not depend on assistive technologies tend to forget - or don't know - that a disabled person might want to use their application, read their web page, and so on. ... The problem is not necessarily that developers do not care.
Oh please, the open source community is 95% driven by scratching your own itch. Very few do any real effort to make it easier for other people to use in general, disabled or not. Which of course doesn't mean that we're heartless bastards, we do care that there are children starving in Africa and a blind guy who can't use your app. Just not enough to ever get around to it.
Rather, it's is that accessibility is highly specialized and requires someone with knowledge in the area, regardless of platform.
Yes, but it's usually not rocket surgery if you care enough to explore it. The few times I've dabbled in it I've found that often takes a lot of effort that doesn't benefit anyone but the disabled, the way a wheelchair user needs a ramp where a step works fine for everybody else. Or in other words, even if you know what you're doing it still takes time, that I certainly wouldn't want to spend on a hobby project.
Live today, because you never know what tomorrow brings
Unlike proprietary alternatives...Linux distros with the Gnome desktop...includes accessibility tools out of the box, such as:
Screen reader A text-to-speech system to read what's on the screen
Magnifier Helps users with visual impairments who need larger text and images
High-contrast mode Helps users who have trouble seeing text unless contrast is corrected, such as white text on a black background, or vice versa
Mouse keys Controls the mouse using the number pad
Sticky keys Helps users who have trouble pressing multiple keys at once, and users who have use of only one hand
Bounce keys To ignore rapidly pressed keys or if a key is accidentally held down
On screen keyboard Helps users who cannot type at all, but who can use a mouse Visual alerts Replace system sounds with visual cues
Accessibility in Linux is good (but could be much better)
Compare:
While this article is aimed at Windows 95 much of the information on Accessibility Options also applies to Windows 3.x and Windows 98.
Making Windows 95 Accessible
Clearly we must solve this problem by hunting down all open source hobby developers and giving them various disabilities.
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With that level of pedantry you must be quite a hit with the [your preferred gender].
What is the proper term for a female furry equipped with a penis?
"I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)
"Select the following link to learn more about the Philadelphia Computer Users’ Group for the Blind and Visually Impaired" ref