Source Code.

[Thomas D Ward <tward21 juno com>]

Hello, Iven and all. I totally agree with some points braught up recently
on this list.Especially, when it comes to working together. 
All of us are on this list for a vary simple reason. That is because we
all have a physical disability of one degree or another. All of us use
one distribution of Linux or another. However, when it comes to actual
screen suport there is vary little to choose from. Each of these screen
readers has strong points and low points. Screen reader x may support a
synththat screen reader y does not. Screen reader y may be easier for to
use for some than screen reader x.
We also must remember one of the reasons we all gravitate to Linux. For
me it was the source code and the dream of sharing ideas with people on
lists like this one and coming up with a piece of free software at low
cost and giving people the chance to use there computer without being
bound to one operating system. 
Finally, we are here and developing our own screen readers for Linux
because the mainstreme software companiews for Windows have decided they
were not going to suport Linux. They see it is a big loss of money, and
they work on a software platform which might give them more money, and
they license  there software at high costs. In addition under their
licenses they have complete rights to there own source so updates are
slower in coming, and also cost each and every one of us money.
Linux is a means to get beyound all that. It is a platform in which each
of us can share ideas, come together, and make our source open to the
public so that someone with fresh programming ideas can improve upon what
is out faster and cheeper. It is something beyond money, or even time. it
is simply a matter of making Linux a fully usable screen accessable
platform. It should be the end goal of everyone on this list to share
ideas, help one another out, review ideas, and come up with worthwhile
screen readers and dictation and ocr packages for not only the shell
level but someday even into the x-windows environment as well.

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