Re: Blind users (was Re: GGI documentation format)

[Kenneth Albanowski <kjahds@kjahds.com>]

On Thu, 31 Jul 1997 becka@sunserver1.rz.uni-duesseldorf.de wrote:

> Hi !
> 
> > Oh, that reminds me: HTML (or a format that can be converted to HTML
> > losslessly) has a big benefit for people using screen readers, Braille
> > displays, etc.
> 
> > That leads me to another question: has anybody thought about what features
> > are neaded by the console to support screen readers?
> 
> Yes. Most of them are expected to be connected to a simple DOS-like VGA 
> screen (i.e. no HW-scrolling via the start-address). They normally hook 
> into the VGA adress-space and read the data from there and have some control 
> to change lines.
> 
> This would be a good argument to keep the current vgascroll.c in evstack, 
> though it is somewhat slow (maybe vgascroll_slow.c ?). It would help these 
> devices.
> 
> However I would like to hear how such things work otherwise, to be able to 
> make up evstack support for them. For me strange IO-devices like Spaceballs
> and 3D glasses are just toys - for others some devices are a necessity and
> I will gladly try to help anyone needing such a thing.

I've added blinux-list to the Cc to let the nice folk over there have
their say.

To summarize for blinux: GGI is a project that will add direct support for
graphics card to the Linux kernel. The console code is being rewritten as
part of this (but will still use text mode!), and I've added the ggi list
what technical features of the console are necessary to support Braille
displays & screen readers. 

In addition to display, GGI will also deal with input devices, using a
technique called EvStack that will deliver "events" (like a button press
or release) to all interested applications. Are there any special features
that Braille displays or screen readers might want in this arena?

If this isn't precisely the right list for the technical discussion, feel
free to point ggi elsewhere.

-- 
Kenneth Albanowski (kjahds@kjahds.com, CIS: 70705,126)


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