[orca-list] [Testers wanted before the official release] Slint64-4.2.1 release candidate is accessible.

[Didier Spaier <didier slint fr>]

Hello list,

this is a request for testing the upcoming Slint64-14.2.1 by visually
impaired potential users, already posted in the blinux list.

Slint is a Linux distribution based on Slackware and Salix, polyglot,
versatile and beginners friendly, cf. our wiki http://slint.fr

A full Slint installation is functional out of the box and can be
tailored to fit most computing requirements.

The current stable version can be installed and used with braille.

The incoming Slint64-14.2.1 will be fully accessible to visually
impaired users, using speech and or a braille device, from installation
to everyday usage in text mode as well as in graphical mode.

Several accessible graphical environments are included in the release
candidate ISO, that can be downloaded here:
http://slackware.uk/slint/x86_64/slint-testing/iso/
Namely: BlackBox, Fluxbox, Fvwm, LXDE, WindowMaker, XFCE
In addition, Maté can be installed with a simple command.

For package management, Slint mostly uses slapt-get, similar to apt-get
but adapted to packages in the Slackware format.

The main software used to provide speech are espeakup with espeak on
the console, orca with espeak-ng, speech-dispatcher and at-spi in
graphical environments. pulseaudio is the sound server used.

brltty is used for braille, both on the console and in graphical
environments, orca communicating with brlapi in the latter case.

zero configuration post installation is needed for the first regular
user created during installation to get speech in the installed system,
if speech was used during installation. brltty is started during
installation and by default in the installed system.

To increase the accessibility of graphical environments, the same key
bindings are set in all mentioned above:
Alt+F1 pops up the panel's Application menu
Alt+F2 pops up a Run dialog (but in Fluxbox)
Alt+F4 closes the focused window
Alt+Tab cycle between windows, giving the raised one the focus.

All panels' application menus shipped have the same layout. From top to
bottom:
Terminal emulator (lxterminal by default)
File manager (PCManfm by default)
Web browser (Mozilla Firefox by default)
Mail client (Mozilla Thunderbird by default)
Preferences
Slint Dashboard (alas non accessible yet as it's a Qt4 app)
Applications sorted by category
Run dialog
Logout dialog

To know more please read:
http://slackware.uk/slint/x86_64/slint-testing/README
http://slackware.uk/slint/x86_64/slint-testing/ACCESSIBILITY

You can post your findings answering this message in the list, and also
in Slint's mailing list:
http://slint.fr/mailman/listinfo/slint_slint.fr
and in our forum:
https://forum.salixos.org/viewforum.php?f=44

I am thankful to the many people who helped me develop this new version.

I look forward for your testing results and feedback.

Have a good day,

Didier Spaier