Using graphical interfaces as a blind user, and a little wish (Re: pulseaudio and speech: performance issues)

[Rob Hill]

Hello Tim and list,

Tim has summarised the issue very well, but I'd like to briefly
express my view on this, as a slightly different slant.

Text is essentially a one-dimensional form, as is speech, which is why
text-based interfaces are so suited to speech output.  It seems to me
that to ask VI users to wrap their brains around the two-dimensional
presentation of a graphical interface, and attempt to turn it into the
one-dimensional form of speech, is something which should only be done
as a last resort.  

People such as Tim often have no choice, because of their specialised work, but
for the majority of users, I suggest that wishing to use the gui as
their primary interface has more to do with the desire to conform with
their sighted peers, and also not being aware of better alternatives, than
with anything else.

Rob






Tim Cross writes:
 > 
 > While I do agree that to some extent having to retro fit a GUI interface
 > designed primarily for sighted users does create a lot of complications for
 > providing an 'eyes free' environment, I'm not convinced there is any really
 > good alternative. This is not meant to under value the excellent work many
 > have done with implementing console based access or building access on top of
 > text based applications.... 
 >