[orca-list] some plans for improving general accessibility of the linux platform

[kendell clark <coffeekingms gmail com>]

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        hi all
The subject sounds very vague, so I'll try to clarify. After a lot of
thinking and considering and a lot of, well windows has feature x but
linux doesn't, I've decided to do what I can to polish off some of
what I see as linux's rough edges. Before you get out the
flamethrowers, let me explain. I mean things such as, filing bugs
against applications, helping desktops improve accessibility, that
sort of thing. I also intend to, if I can get help, write a graphical
configuration dialog for the tintin alter aeon pack, and add something
similar to nvda's controller. Essentially, I want orca to
automatically announce incoming text, what it says of course
configurable in tintin itself. This should be possible by simply
staying focused on the terminal window, but due to bugs in some layor
of the terminal a11y stack, this doesn't always work. This would allow
you to do other things and still get updates without having to tab
over, and try to figure out who said what. I'm beginning to wonder, to
be honest, if I've done or said something to alienate people on this
list. Whenever I send an email here, I usually get at most one or two
responses, and then nothing. If so, what was it? I can't think of
anything. If people are busy and just don't see my mails than I
apologize, but I've gotten the impression for a while that my messages
seem to be falling into a hole. Joanie responds if she can, but
otherwise I don't see much. I'd also like to suggest, if possible, a
keystroke in orca that, when pressed, opens up an edit window with
information about the currently focused object, possibly also the
entire window. At the moment, the only way to dig into what orca sees
is by generating a debug log, which isn't hard, but it would be nice
to be able to paste a couple of lines into an email that non devs can
understand. Perhapse also make some kind of log viewer to look at
orca's logs in realtime? No, I'm not suggesting orca be made more like
nvda. I'm not even sure orca logs at all unless it's told to do so, so
this might not be possible. I'm trying to smooth the way for windows
users coming over from other screen readers, most noteably nvda, and
from my own experiences being able to look at a log and see what
orca's seeing does help, especially if you can interpret it a little.
There are various little bugs in at-spi that need smoothing out, such
as the label bug that keeps orca from not being able to see new
content or changed content, etc but I've already mentioned that so
won't go into that here. Some little things that need fixing. I can't
get into the guts of at-spi, etc that stuff is way over my head but I
intend to help where I can. I will need some sort of indication that
I'm helping, instead of my messages being swallowed up by that great
server in the sky. More blind specific applications wouldn't hurt
either, but that's a topic for another time. I'm basically trying to
get other blind linux users interested in improving things, instead of
being content to simply sit back and let things progress. Not
mandatory at all, just trying to find any interest if there is any.
People are busy, and have lives, etc and I'm not asking for a
committment or anything, just thoughts on what could be improved, etc.
It's late and I'm rambling, so I'll shut up now. I'll finish by saying
there's nothing wrong with orca and most of the rough edges aren't in
orca's area, but at the lower layors, or the lack of applications ofr
features i think might be useful.
Thanks
Kendell clark

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