More up-to-date Information regarding Linux Accessibility can be found at the Linux Accessibility Resource Site: http://larswiki.atrc.utoronto.ca/wiki/Software
This site is hosted by the IDRC.
Index
- Description
- Screen Readers
- Alternative Input
- Screen Magnification
- On-screen Keyboard
- Braille Support
- Optical Character Recognition
- Voice Recognition
- Resources
This list is for reference purposes only and does not reflect endorsement by the IDRC.
Description
Linux is a free, open-source Operating System distributed under the Free Software Foundation's GNU General Public License(GPL) that has grown in popularity in the past few years. Because of the non-commercial nature of Linux, the accessibility options can be hard to find. These links are a starting point for Linux accessibility.
Screen Readers
- Emacspeak is a speech interface that allows visually impaired users to interact independently and efficiently with the computer.
Alternative Input
- Morse All is a Morse code interface for Linux that allows the user to interact with the computer by entering Morse code through the buttons of a mouse.
Screen Magnification
- XVI Terminal from BEAM - screen magnification and screen reading software for Linux
- GMag - screen magnification for the GNOME environment
- requires GNOME development environment to compile.
- Offers continuous magnification while you work
- Gnopernicus - an integrated screen reader and magnifier for Gnome and compatible applications
On-screen Keyboard
- GOK
The GOK (GNOME On-screen Keyboard) project is an open source software development project designed to create advanced alternative input solutions for the linux/ unix environment.
Braille Support
- BRLTTY - Access Software for Unix for a Blind Person Using a Soft Braille Terminal
- provides access to the Linux console
Optical Character Recognition
- Ocrad - "The GNU OCR" - based on a feature extraction method
- Clara OCR - Windows X-based character recognition software designed for large projects. *The Linux ClaraOCR website is presently not working. It appears that the interface is being updated. Only the 2003 version is available for download, from the Clara geocities site
- GOCR/JOCR - character recognition software designed to allow easy porting to many Operating Systems.
- supports a large variety of image formats
- also available for free download in MS-DOS and Windows versions
- still in development, not all features are fully supported
Voice Recognition
Resources
The IDRC also hosts the Linux Accessibility Resource Site: http://larswiki.atrc.utoronto.ca/wiki/Software
- The Linux Access HOW TO A very complete but dated resource for adding accessibility to Linux.
- Speakups Webpage documents speech output for Linux.
- BLinux [Blind + Linux] - dedicated to improving access for Linux users with visual disabilities
- Screen Magnifiers List page for resources for Unix and Linux
- GNOME Accessibility Project - A useful resource for news about accessibility projects for GNOME. Includes some downloads.