Re: RIGHT ON GENA!

[Jason White <jasonw ariel ucs unimelb edu au>]

There are several existing projects which should be noted in this
context:

1. UltraSonix: http://henge1.henge.com/~brian/ultralin.html

2. Gnome speech access, mentioned on this mailing list in the past (no
   dedicated web page?)

It should also be pointed out that the two most popular graphical
desktops for Linux, Gnome and KDE are now both free software (or
open-source, depending on which side of the terminological debate you
fall on) projects. So long as there is not a widespread movement away
from free software licences, they will remain available for public
development by the community of users as a whole. Most of the
commercial interest surrounding Linux has so far related to (1)
distribution, (2) the development of proprietary applications for
Linux; and (3) technical support. The core development projects are
not, however, driven by commercial interests. The continued viability
of the "free software" (or "open-source") community is very important
for accessibility as it ensures openness in the development of
software and helps to maintain a high level of technical quality. It
also fosters cooperation, which is exactly what is required if
principles of universal design are to be widely implemented.