[orca-list] Linux and Orca Newbie.

["Amy Mason" <amason80 gmail com>]

Dear list,

Hello, my name is Amy Mason, and I am a legally blind computer user.  I joined this list because I really want to see Orca succeed, but to be honest, I haven't had much luck in getting it running on my own system.  It is probably because I am very new to Linux as well as Orca, and am unsure as to how to begin.  To give you a little background, I am running Ubuntu 
7.04 pretty much as is.  I want to use Orca's speech package, as software magnification is not an option for me.  I was told in the ubuntu help forums how to update orca to the latest build, and followed the instructions to the letter.   The updates appear to be successful, and I can run orca, but I have several issues I am unsure how to resolve.

1.  I have read that to use the internet with orca, I need to install firefox 3.0.  The only 3.0 I have seen is the alpha development version. Is this what I should be running, and if so, how do I  install it?

2.  Is there a way to make orca stop reading after I have gotten the information I want or need?  For example, In lists, or when I type in open office, it keeps rereading the sentence thus far, plus the new information each time I type.  in a manner where I would hear- s so som some somet all the way through until my sentence is complete.  I am hopeful that there is a way to stop orca from doing this as it cannot keep up with my typing or navigation and I am left with it talking the entire time but not telling me what I am doing on the screen.  

If I could get far enough along to handle these issues, I believe that I could start to use orca and Ubuntu for some of my daily tasks.  As it is, I dual boot into windows, and it is sadly getting most of my attention.
 
I apologize if my questions sound inane, but this is my first linux experience, and I really would like to learn.   

Also, in a slightly unrelated topic, what other programs should I look into getting to make my ubuntu more useful.   Are there other accessibility programs I should look at using in tandem with orca?  I would appreciate any help you can give me.

Thanks,

Amy Mason