Accessibility, what would the perfect blind Linux Desktop look like for you? - Feddit
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Accessibility is a really important field. Everyone should have the right to use a free and friendly Operating System. But its a pretty nieche topic, and I also think current ways of implementing it are not perfect. I created a Thread on Fedora Discussion (Link) but Lemmy is way more active so I would love to spread attention to this topic, and collect your ideas. - How should a blind Desktop be structured? - Are there any big dealbreakers like Wayland, TTS engines, specific applications e.g.? - What do you think would be the best base Desktop to build such a setup on? - Would you think an immutable, out of the box Distro like “Fedora Silversound”, with everything included, the best tools, presets, easy setup e.g. is a good idea? - How privacy-friendly can a usable blind Desktop be? Also, how would you like to call it? “A Talking Desktop”? I am excited for your comments!
  • MJBrune@beehaw.orgEnglish
    5·
    1 year ago

    Honestly, think Alexa or Google home. While not all blind people are 100% blind, realize that if you want someone who is blind to use your software then turn off your monitor. Is it still usable? If not then there is your problem build from there.

    As such the term blind accessible desktop is silly because a desktop is really a UI/UX feature that doesn’t fully work when you turn off your monitor. Design from the ground up. Make it an audio focused experience.

    • Pantherina@feddit.deOP
      2·
      1 year ago

      This is very true, for the monitor part. But it doesnt have to be voice controlled, as this may be pretty inconvenient and fast enough. I imagine a laptop with the screen removed, or maybe something else just to protect the keyboard. It should still have a braille keyboard and whatnot. Touchpad maybe not.

      • MJBrune@beehaw.orgEnglish
        4·
        1 year ago

        I feel like desktop controller support would be more accessible than a mouse. A mouse you can put into the void that is your desktop. This is not useful if you don’t have vision. You’d not use a desktop UI/UX as we know it for these things. Also, not all blind people know braille. Screen readers are helpful but if you were making a made-for-blind people environment I don’t think you could stop at turning up the contrast and putting a screen reader on.

        • Pantherina@feddit.deOP
          1·
          1 year ago

          Very true! Also a hard question if the desktop should simply have no monitor. Because making an accessible GUI for people with impaired vision doesnt seem thaat hard. A high contrast theme, very strong zoom, all these already work well in KDE. The login screen could be a problem and there is more, but its not reinventing the wheel.

          But the controller support is a good point. And that not all blind people know braille.