Category: Geeks r Us
This is the version release note that was put up on its site.
Vibuntu 1.2 Release-announcement!
Vibuntu - The first Linux distro to be fully accessible to blind and
partially sighted users out of the box!
Vibuntu is a customised version of the popular Ubuntu Linux distribution
optimised to meet the needs of visually impaired users by default. Vibuntu
comes in the form of a live CD which you place in the CD drive and then
restart your computer. Once it boots a screen-reader is activated, USB
Braille displays are automatically detected and full screen magnification can
be turned on/off with a simple keystroke. Vibuntu also provides an attractive
visual interface which makes it suitable for sighted, partially sighted and
blind users. You can navigate the menus and applications using the
screen-reader and/or Braille display or switch this support off and use the
full screen magnification. This is an ideal way of introducing visually
impaired users to the Linux operating system which offers a free and
open-source alternative to expensive proprietary software. This is very safe
and secure way to let someone experience Linux and experiment without taking
any risks or making any changes to your computer. You can continue to use
Vibuntu as a live CD or install it to your hard drive either alongside
Windows or as a complete desktop replacement. It is also possible to install
and run Vibuntu from a USB memory stick if your computer supports USB
booting. If you are interested in trying Vibuntu or would just like to know
more about it please visit the project website at
http://blinuxman.net/projects/vibuntu.php
Thanks so much for contributing to my Let's Talk Tech class. I will atempt to get this up and running and demo it for the class. Linux has come along way and it is quite obvious that with blind people working on this there is great potential especially for the population I serve. Keep those fantastic tidbits coming.
Yes, please do. I remember hearing something about this before, but nothin since then. I definitly wanna try this out. I like ubuntu, so lets see how this one does.
I've got Vibuntu V1.2, its a nice small distro. I'm unsure if I'll install it, along with my copy of Windows XP, on this laptop, but at least, it still recognizes all of my hardware. The only thing I'd advise the author to do, if at all possible, besides adding other synths and console speech is to deselect the braille displays, and disable as many of the services as possible.
Also to set up a 64 bit version, since the next system I'm gonna get will most likely have more than 4 gb ram. And allot of the systems that are out now a days, are like this as well. The reason I say to deselect the displays and disable the services, is, the less stuff running, the more resources you have for stuff that you're gonna use the comp for.
I wonder, though, if it is very different from Ubuntu? I have tried 8.4 on three separate computers, all as full installs, but Orca keeps stopping on me and/or saying that certain, random windows (usually firefox or GEdit) are "inaccessible". I was told to use Speech Dispatcher instead of the default Gnome driver, but many people use the default driver with no problem at all. Does Vobuntu really work all that well? Finally, can I download an iso and burn it manually?
Never mind about the .iso file, I found it. I still wonder about my other questions, though.
I downloaded it, and tried it out. I like it, if i can get it to install on my desktop, and I get my external, I think i'll replace my second hard drive with it. TOo bad my desktop only has 512 megs of ram.
I was actually impressed with it. I have tried ubuntu distrus in the past however have had one problem or another. I have never installed them just run the live CD. I popped this one in and worked like a charm with absolutely no major problems. Okay, maybe one but I don't know if it's orka or the fact that I am running it from cd. Sometimes orka just stopps orbitrarily and I don't know why. However, from the cd it was quite responsive and certainly is worpth a look. I tried surfing the net and it did well. I might consider teaching it in one of my classes as soon as I can get up to speed. I don't even know how to go to the desktop yet but I am sure there are helpful docs avaialble which I shall hunt down. Give it a try there's absolutely nothing to lose.