LHS Episode #059: Orca and Outtakes

Introduction:

• Apologies for the delays in releasing new episodes.

• This episode is an interview with Jonathan Nadeau of Frostbite Systems and a user of the Linux screen-reading program, Orca.

Interview:

• Orca is a screen reading program integrated with the Gnome desktop. It’s available for most Linux distributions.

• Russ and Jonathan discuss how a sight-impaired individual might install Linux. There are a couple of Linux distributions that have screen-reader support during the installation: Talking Arch Linux and Vinux.

• Speakup is another accessibility tool, but one that speaks the command line.

• Vinux is an Ubuntu-based Linux distribution with Orca built-in, allowing a sight-impaired individual to install it from the CD. Vinux is the distribtion Frostbite Systems normally installs for it’s sight-impaired customers.

• Slackware has a Speakup kernel, and more distributions are including the Speakup module as well. Several distributions can be installed using Speakup. Some instructions are available at the Speakup site.

• Russ mentioned the Quick Learning Techies Show (QLTS) that also occasionally discusses accessibility issues.

• Jonathan discusses the pros and cons of Vinux, as well as his concerns about it being Ubuntu-based.

• Richard asks Jonathan for more details about how Vinux talks a new user through the install.

• If the application is GTK-based, it will likely work with Orca; if it’s QT-based, it probably won’t work with Orca.

• Ted’s software (WA0EIR), including PSK31LX, works via ssh, so the programs are controllable from the command line and would work with the Speakup module.

• Meanwhile, Russ attempts to install Orca during the show.

• Jonathan mentions another podcast he does, This Week in Fedora, and says there is an amateur radio Fedora spin. (I could not find a link to a specific spin of Fedora for amateur radio, but there is a Special Interest Group. -Ed.)

• Frostbite Systems sells desktops and laptops with Linux pre-installed. Customers can choose from Debian, Fedora, Linux Mint, OpenSuse, Ubuntu and Vinux. A portion of each sale is donated back to the distribution chosen.

• Russ asks Jonathan about the hardware he uses in Frostbite systems. All of the laptops/notebooks have all-Intel hardware, while some desktops have nVidia video cards. All are completely Linux-compatible.

• Russ then examines the specifications of some of the Frostbite computers.

• Jonathan also produces several podcasts through Frostbite Media:

• Frostcast: interviews with project leaders of various GNU/Linux and Free/Open Source projects.

• This week in Fedora: interviews with people involved with the Fedora project.

• This week in Debian: interviews with people within the Debian community.

• Orcacast is on hiatus, but should resume in the not too distant future.

Contact Info:

• Contact Richard at [email protected], Russ at [email protected], or both at the same time at [email protected].

• Listen to the live stream every other Tuesday at 8:00pm Central time. Check the LHS web site for dates.

• Leave us a voice mail at 417-200-4811, or record an introduction to the podcast.

• Sign up for the LHS mailing list.

• Sign up for the MAGNetcon mailing list.

• LHS merchandise is available at the SHOP! link on Web site. Check out the Badgerwear or buy one of the other LHS-branded items at PrintFection.com/lhs or Cafe Press. Thanks!

• Thanks to Dave from Gamma Leonis for the theme music.

Outtakes:

• Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg