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Shell Access for the Blind

The Way to a better, faster, easier PC and Internet access

The Best introduction to the Linux/Unix environment

The advantage of using apps Without Lx/Ux on your own PC

Listen to Tux:~#.WAV : Let me guide you from DOS to LINUX!

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Last updated: 17 May 2008 - You are visitor nr. 21117
Today, Wednesday 20 August 2008

Unix, DOS and Windows: also known as the Good, the Bad and the Ugly!

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Intro

IMPORTANT: when you read here "Linux", we are in fact talking about GNU, since this is the name of the Operating System; but let's keep simple: remember that we mean "GNU/Linux", NOT "the Linux kernel". That's it!
Also note that "LX/UX" is currently used by many people instead of "Linux/Unix". So, a Lx app is nothing more than a GNU/Linux application.
OK! We're now ready to go!

Let me explain 'better, faster, easier':
- Shell access is better:
a shell account is a text-based access to a remote Unix/Linux/BSD/Solaris machine, and text is DEFINITELY blindfriendly, so of course shell is BETTER than ANY existing/future graphical interface;
- Shell is faster:
without the presence of useless pictures on HTML pages, -hm, but let's make an exception for the head of the GNU and for Tux The Penguin :-) -, blind shell(/Lynx) users can IMMEDIATELY jump to the right information / links; so the textmode does offer direct access to the essence / the content itself!
- Shell is easier:
the Lynx browser and the Pine E-mail/News client are really user/blindfriendly. They are both very popular on school/university servers and at Shell Account Providers.
BTW, its easier to tell the computer what he'll exactly do by entering a precise command at the prompt.

Why should I recommend a shell account for blind computer users?
First of all, blind still use text as under DOS, even when using graphical screen readers... that's reality!
Why textmode/shell? It is/was easy, efficient and commandline driven. (Note: for all die hearts, have a look at the FreeDOS Project Home to observe the latest developments in this "new" Free GNU/GPL DOS!).

A shell account does offer commandline facilities, this can be considered as the better way to switch from DOS to Posix systems, or to prevent the need of graphical screen readers...
By the way, a shell account is accessible from anywhere, from any computer/any OS, with any braille display or speech synthesis: simply telnet (or ssh) into your personal account.

But my purpose is to make people discover/love Linux / Unix: it's NOT SO difficult to learn, much more efficient than DOS, multitask-and-multiuser, network-enabled, there's no problem for using it in multiple consoles, and there are lots of access tools for Linux/Unix available on the net and inside the distribution itself.

There are several ways to learn more about Linux/Unix, their features, advantages, technical aspects and performances and their philosophical orientations:

First, read some good book.

You can start using a Unix tutorial such as L-nix, this is what I did in 1999. But of course some mini-distro or some live-CD is a much better training method than using an old "vintage" Unix simulator...
(For the M$ users, there is something called CygWin: it provides a Unix environment under Windoze).

You can download, uncompress and install an UMSDOS (/or loopback) Linux distribution, -something like BrlSpeak-, or try some mini-dist such as TomsRtBt, or a live CD (Ubuntu/Knoppix/GRML), then provide or activate braille and/or speech, and you're ready to go!!!
But don't forget to try first the command-line interface!

I recommend the usage of a Shell Account as a temporary or additional alternative: then you'll learn how to use Bash, things like Joe, Vi/Vim, (why not Emacs...), or Pine (a very nice E-mail&News client), and the famous Lynx, -IMHO probably The Best text-webbrowser-, before having Linux/Unix installed on your personal (fixed) PC station.

Last but not least, while continuing using current/upcoming new accessibility tools for the graphical environment, you'll still be able to combine it in Linux/Unix with the shell, while this feature no longer exist in Windows systems like Vista...

For a very nice free shell account, look at these suggestions:

Bylur.net (for a complete and up-to-date list)
CyberSpace.org (following this link allows you to create your account immediately)
DaForest.org (very good, but ssh required)
DucTape.net/~mitja/freeunix.shtml (another good free shell provider listing)
FreeBelt.com (free Linux shells with telnet listing)
Nyx.net

RootShell.be
SDF-EU.org
SDF.Lonestar.org (USA)

... Or follow my bookmarklist, ...
or search by AltaVista / Google for 'free shells'.

Finally, shell accounts are interesting for learning the standard Unix/Linux commands, cf. man pages, and sure you can use that knowledge later under Linux/Unix on your personal fixed or laptop station.

Conclusion: Let The CommandLine Live 4 Long Time!
osvaLdo:~#