[Fwd: VIBuntu]

Wed Dec 17 05:04:03 UTC 2008

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	VIBuntu
Date: 	Mon, 15 Dec 2008 13:11:27 -0000
From: 	<tim.pennick at bt.com>
Reply-To: 	Linux for blind general discussion <blinux-list at redhat.com>
To: 	<blinux-list at redhat.com>

All,

Forwarding this from the BCAB list.  I don't have any experience or
knowledge of the ViBuntu distribution other than what I have learnt from
the attached mail thread, and am simply forwarding this article for
information.

Regards,

Tim Pennick 

-----Original Message-----
From: bcab-bounce at freelists.org [mailto:bcab-bounce at freelists.org] On
Behalf Of Isaac Porat
Sent: 12 December 2008 21:09
To: bcab at freelists.org
Subject: [bcab] Re: Using Linux as an alternative to Windows

And here is a press release from Tony Sales:

Regards
Isaac

I have written a short press release aimed at VI users who may not know
about Linux. I would be grateful if you could post it on any general
accessibility/software sites/forums you use if you think it would be a
good way of getting the uninitiated to give Linux a try! If we manage to
get enough interest from a few institutions, charities or government
agencies it may be possible to obtain some funding for a few developers
to work on the project full or part-time! Thanks for all the support. I
hope people on the mailing lists don't think I just a self-promoting
megalomaniac, I really do want to help VI users and I believe (perhaps
naively) that Vibuntu is a step in the right direction. Please feel free
to shoot me down in flames! <straps on his asbestos wings and applies
liberal amounts of sun-block> The press release follows!

Vibuntu - The first Linux distro to be fully accessible to blind and
partially sighted users out of the box!

Vibuntu is a customised version of the popular Ubuntu Linux distribution
optimised to meet the needs of visually impaired users by default.
Vibuntu comes in the form of a live CD  which you place in the CD drive
and then restart your computer. Once it boots a screen-reader is
activated, USB Braille displays are automatically detected and full
screen magnification can be turned on/off with a simple keystroke.
Vibuntu also provides an attractive visual interface which makes it
suitable for sighted, partially sighted and blind users. You can
navigate the menus and applications using the screen-reader and/or
Braille display or switch this support off and use the full screen
magnification. This is an ideal way of introducing visually impaired
users to the Linux operating system which offers a free and open-source
alternative to expensive proprietary software. This is very safe and
secure way to let someone experience Linux and experiment without taking
any risks or making any changes to your computer. You can continue to
use Vibuntu as a live CD or install it to your hard drive either
alongside Windows or as a complete desktop replacement. It is also
possible to install and run Vibuntu from a USB memory stick if your
computer supports USB booting. If you are interested in trying Vibuntu
or would just like to know more about it please visit the project
website at http://blinuxman.net/projects/vibuntu.php
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_______________________________________________
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Visit http://live.gnome.org/Orca for more information on Orca
-----Original Message-----
From: bcab-bounce at freelists.org [mailto:bcab-bounce at freelists.org] On
Behalf Of Isaac Porat
Sent: 12 December 2008 21:04
To: bcab at freelists.org
Subject: [bcab] Using Linux as an alternative to Windows

Hello All

I have been using Linux learning the system gradually in a dual boot
laptop for a while.

Today another important step was taken to make Ubuntu (a distribution of
Linux) to be available accessible out of the box.

Antony Sales who works at the National College for the Blind in Hereford
release a new version of a distribution called Vibuntu (visual impaired
ubuntu).

The announcement is further below.

If the list is interested, I am happy to share my limited experience of
using Linux Gnome and Orca so far.

Regards

Isaac

-----Original Message-----

From: ubuntu-accessibility-bounces at lists.ubuntu.com
[mailto:ubuntu-accessibility-bounces at lists.ubuntu.com
<mailto:ubuntu-accessibility-bounces at lists.ubuntu.com> ] On Behalf Of
Anthony Sales

Sent: 12 December 2008 16:35

To: ubuntu-accessibility at lists.ubuntu.com;
gnome-accessibility-list at gnome.org; orca-list at gnome.org

Subject: Vibuntu 1.2 is ready for download!

Vibuntu 1.2 Released!

I am happy to formally announce the realease of Vibuntu 1.2 and I feel
that this is a significant release because I have now resolved the
problem of Orca beong unable to read admin apps launched from the menus
and activated USB Braille Display autoprobing. This was achieved by
simply changing the entries in the admin menu so they launched as an
'application in terminal'
using the sudo or gksu command when necessary. This simply opens a
terminal, asks for the admin password if required and then runs the gui
application.
When you close the application the terminal closes automatically and
focus is returned to the Orca window. The only exception to this is
remastersys gui which for some reason does not retain focus, you have to
alt+tab to move from the terminal to the remastersys gui. (This is a
problem with remastersys rather than Orca/Gnome etc). Sighted or
partially sighted users are advised to open the admin apps using the
desktop icons which will run the admin applications in the standard way.
(Thanks to Luke Davies for this
suggestion) Of course this solution oly works on top of the changes
recommended on the Orca SysAdmin page.

The download URL's are:

http://www.rnc.ac.uk/mct/linux/vibuntu/Vibuntu-1.2.zip
<http://www.rnc.ac.uk/mct/linux/vibuntu/Vibuntu-1.2.zip>
<http://www.rnc.ac.uk/mct/linux/vibuntu/Vibuntu-1.2.zip
<http://www.rnc.ac.uk/mct/linux/vibuntu/Vibuntu-1.2.zip> > 

(This is a zip file containing iso and md5sum)

http://vibuntu.blinuxman.net/ <http://vibuntu.blinuxman.net/>
<http://vibuntu.blinuxman.net/ <http://vibuntu.blinuxman.net/> > and
http://blinuxman.net/vibuntu/ <http://blinuxman.net/vibuntu/>
<http://blinuxman.net/vibuntu/ <http://blinuxman.net/vibuntu/> > 

(These are standard iso downloads)

The homepage is here:

http://blinuxman.net/projects/vibuntu.php
<http://blinuxman.net/projects/vibuntu.php>
<http://blinuxman.net/projects/vibuntu.php
<http://blinuxman.net/projects/vibuntu.php> > 

I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to this project by
offering feedback, suggestions and criticisms. I would especially like
to thank Osvaldo La Rosa who has enthusiastically taken on the
responsibility for hosting a Vibuntu webpage and mirroring the images.
This will in all probability be the last release of the year as I now
want to take stock of what has been done, make available a list of
features/changes, instructions on how to create Vibuntu from scratch and
a wishlist of possible new features divided into easy, difficult and
impossible! 

As ever I would appreciate continued feedback and suggestions. I will
set up a thread on the Ubuntu Assistive Technology and Accessibility
section for people to post their suggestions!

drbongo

<mailto:orca-list at gnome.org <mailto:orca-list at gnome.org> > 

Confidentiality: This e-mail and its attachments are intended for the
above named only and may be confidential. If they have come to you in
error you must take no action based on them, nor must you copy or show
them to anyone:
please reply to this e-mail and highlight the error to the sender.

Security Warning: Please note that e-mail has been created in the
knowledge that the Internet e-mail is not a 100% secure communication
medium. We advise that you understand and observe this lack of security
when e-mailing us.

Viruses: Although we have taken steps to ensure that this e-mail and
attachments are free from any virus, we advised that in keeping with
good computing practice the recipient should ensure they are actually
virus free.

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