[orca-list] Fw: Thanks and some questions about "Linux Speaks"

[Glenn <glennervin cableone net>]

Hi, can anyone tell me about this?
Seems like I remember this from a long time back.
Glenn

----- Original Message ----- 
To: <BLIND-L LISTSERV UARK EDU>
Sent: Sunday, April 01, 2012 6:26 PM
Subject: Thanks and some questions about "Linux Speaks"


IN using google I came across this info and wonder if some of you who've
made suggestions here about using linux know anything about this "linux
speaks" stuff?  Any info appreciated

Here is some info on it from their web page:

                                   LinuxSpeaks

Linux for the blind and visually impaired

   An easy to learn aural interface to the Linux operating system.
      __________________________________________________________________

    Download:
    Current Version is 2.29-2 02/10/2009
      * Tarball Installer (3.7MB):
        [1]linuxspeaks-alpha-2.29-2.tar.gz (ver. 2.29-2)
      * Tarball Installer (3.4MB):
        [2]linuxspeaks-alpha-2.29-2.tar.bz2 (ver. 2.29-2)
      __________________________________________________________________

    [3]Download Live CD version 2.29
    Includes speakup screen reader as well
    as locales for 6 different languages:
      __________________________________________________________________
      __________________________________________________________________

    Documentation: The LinuxSpeaks project is a collection of scripts and
    library modules that aspire to be a comprehensive vocal, sight-free
    user interface to the Linux operating system. So far LinuxSpeaks
    includes:
      * File Manager
      * Text Editor (copy, cut, paste, spell check and many other features)
      * [4]Web browser
      * Email Client
      * File reader (formats include: text; html; rtf; pdf; daisy; Open
        Office; MSWord)
      * Sound Mixer
      * Calender With Notepad
      * Clock
      * Calculator
      * Weather Conditions and Forecast
      * [5]Command line shell
      * Font Configurator
      * Printer Configurator
      * PPP Dialer and Configurator
      * Media Player
      * CD Player
      * CD to MP3 Ripper
      * Help Documentation
      * Game of Consentration
      * Blackjack Game
      * Voice Configurator
      * Auto Update
      * [6]Pager
      * Voice Recorder
      * Time Configurator
      * Installer
      __________________________________________________________________

    [7]Documentation for using LinuxSpeaks

    [8]Instructions and tips to install LinuxSpeaks
      __________________________________________________________________

    Changes in Latest Versions:

    Version 2.29
      * Enabled the F1 key to display help anywhere in the LinuxSpeaks
        System.
      * Added CD Burner
      * Added Disk Manager
      * Added Add User applet.
      * Added linuxspeaks script to start main menu in X or a shell.
      * Fixed many bugs.

    Version 2.28
      * Fixed errors with configuring cepstral voice with voice config
        applet.
      * Archiver applet is now functional. Also added menu item for
        Archiver in Main Menu.
      * Added aural prompts when adding text in Calender applet.
      * Calender now uses the pager applet to display help.
      * Added new feature in browser applet to optionally open web page in
        the Firefox browser.
      * Added Dictionary.com to search engine list in browser applet.
      * Added security feature in configuration applet to force logging in
        as root in order to configure system wide settings.
      * Added audible system bell to denote progress in install script. If
        no text to speech engine installed install script was previously
        silent.
      * LinuxSpeaks now uses a new text editor lsed.pl written in perl
        using the curses library. This editor was written for LinuxSpeaks
        and integrates better than the previous tcl based editor.
      * Fixed errors and added new features to pager applet and command
        shell applet: Search text; Go to line number; Print function; Help
        function; Upper and lower case prompt function;
      * Pager and Command shell key bindings are now consistant with the
        new editor.
      * Audio mixer applet re-written to allow adjusting of all controls.
        Previously did not work with all sound cards.
      * Live CD now includes an applet to install to hard drive.
      __________________________________________________________________

INSTALLING:

    If you have a [9]Debian distribution or similar (eg. ubuntu) just run
    the install.sh script as root or via sudo.
    This script attempts to install the dependencies for you, using
    apt-get, as well as installing the LinuxSpeaks binaries, shared files,
    and configuration files. It has been tested on debian 4.0r1 i386 and
    had no problem with it.

    If you have a Fedora Core or Redhat like system with yum installed you
    can try to run "install.sh yum", although I've had some problems
    because there is no mplayer package on which Linux Speaks relies. I
    have had some luck installing totem and making a symolic link pointing
    to it named mplayer.
    cd /usr/bin
    ln -s totem mplayer
    There is also problems because no package for lame is in the yum
    repository. This breaks the program that rips and encodes CD audio to
    MP3 files. No easy workaround is known at this time.
      __________________________________________________________________

USEFUL LINKS:

    [10]Documentation for using LinuxSpeaks
    [11]Detailed Instructions and tips to install LinuxSpeaks on a clean
    Debian System.
    [12]Help for the Visually Impaired to configure Firefox and Internet
    Explorer web browsers.
    [13]Useful Commands for the Linux command line interface
    [14]More tips about using Linux.
      __________________________________________________________________

    [15]Contact me for help with LinuxSpeaks: joe joekamphaus net
      __________________________________________________________________

References

    1. 
http://www.joekamphaus.net/files/linuxspeaks/linuxspeaks-alpha-2.29-2.tar.gz
    2. 
http://www.joekamphaus.net/files/linuxspeaks/linuxspeaks-alpha-2.29-2.tar.bz2
    3. http://www.joekamphaus.net/live.html
    4. http://www.joekamphaus.net/Web_browser.html
    5. http://www.joekamphaus.net/lsh.html
    6. http://www.joekamphaus.net/pager.html
    7. http://www.joekamphaus.net/linuxspeaks.usage.html
    8. http://www.joekamphaus.net/instructions_tips.html
    9. http://www.debian.org/
   10. http://www.joekamphaus.net/linuxspeaks.usage.html
   11. http://www.joekamphaus.net/instructions_tips.html
   12. http://www.veneziale.net/help-visual-impaired.htm
   13. http://www.joekamphaus.net/shell_commands.html
   14. http://www.joekamphaus.net/LinuxTips.html
   15. mailto:joe joekamphaus net