interesting experiment.

Tue May 21 03:36:55 EDT 2002

As a good idea, I think that a good tutorial should start thinking that a
new user of linux used Windows until that moment.
I don't know if a person with absolutely no experience in computers, would
start learning linux these days.
I think the new Linux users know  at least DOS or Windows.

So the tutorial should  say that the ls command is like the dir command for
dos, but the differences are: ...
Then it should explain the differences between the 2 OS's telling how to
copy a file to a floppy, why it should be mounted, etc.
I don't know if there are installers for Linux that can install this OS with
only a few enter keys , or without a hardware sinthesizer, etc, so the
installation  of Linux is not so important for an absolute beginner  because
perhaps an advanced user will install the OS.

Another good starting tutorial would be explaining all the available  screen
readers, sinthesizers, telling what is a "talking environment like emacs,
comparing the screen readers for DOS and windows with those for Linux,
comparing the responsiveness and sound quality of sinthesizers, and
comparing them with  each other.

This way, for a new user would be much easier to  choose what they want and
what is more appropriate for what they want to do with the computer.

Teddy,
orasnita at home.ro

----- Original Message -----
From: "Ann Parsons" <akp at eznet.net>
To: <speakup at braille.uwo.ca>
Sent: Monday, May 20, 2002 5:48 PM
Subject: Re: interesting experiment.

Hi all,

I have left this post in here because it is cogent and it applies
here.

Excuse me for speaking bluntly, but what is needed here is some
education mentality.  We've received several messages from one person
this morning who is trying his best to learn Linux.  He has to learn
Linux for his job or school or something He's working with a set of
circumstances that are not the best.

First, he is using software speech in Linux via emacs because Dectalk
PC is not supported by Speakup.  So, he's kinda between a rock and a
hard place.

Second, English is not his native tongue and he is having a hard time
understanding docs and what commands to use.

Third, he has a learning style that needs to be accommodated.  This
takes understanding and patience.

Charles, if ACB is interested in Linux, that's super.  Is there any
way I can help?  I'd be happy to write tutorials, except that I'm not
good at all the commands and so on.  If someone gave me all the
commands and that, I could write a tutorial.  Is there perhaps someone
who would like to collaborate with me on writing Linux Tutorials for
the blind?

Ann P.
>>>>> "Hi all,Charles" == Charles Crawford <ccrawford at acb.org> writes:

    Hi all,Charles>          OK, now I need to speak from the view of
    Hi all,Charles> the American council of the blind with respect to
    Hi all,Charles> this thread.

    Hi all,Charles>          We want to see alternatives to the
    Hi all,Charles> dominant Ms-Windows operating system and
    Hi all,Charles> applications that are accessible and user
    Hi all,Charles> friendly.  We realize there is a culture around
    Hi all,Charles> Linux that we do not wish to displace or otherwise
    Hi all,Charles> change, yet the culture demands a level of
    Hi all,Charles> personal involvement and knowledge that is neither
    Hi all,Charles> easy to obtain from the available resources nor
    Hi all,Charles> easy to learn once those resources are found.
    Hi all,Charles> Hence, the participation of the wider blindness
    Hi all,Charles> community is not likely unless there are new ways
    Hi all,Charles> of learning and using Linux that maintain the
    Hi all,Charles> accessibility and lack of expense that are so
    Hi all,Charles> attractive.

    Hi all,Charles>          It is not a matter of telling folks to
    Hi all,Charles> read the manual when the manual is prefaced upon
    Hi all,Charles> an expectation of understanding that is greater
    Hi all,Charles> than the average person starting out.  Neither is
    Hi all,Charles> it helpful to assume that everyone is going to be
    Hi all,Charles> able to prioritize their time to dedicate to Linux
    Hi all,Charles> in the same way as others have.

    Hi all,Charles>          This is not a hobby.  It is an operating
    Hi all,Charles> system for use by those who need the access and
    Hi all,Charles> affordability of it.  So let's admit that we need
    Hi all,Charles> to accommodate those interests and find a way to
    Hi all,Charles> do it that is not threatening to the current
    Hi all,Charles> community of users.

    Hi all,Charles>          For the reasons above, ACBH is attempting
    Hi all,Charles> to find the resources to get the internal speech
    Hi all,Charles> engine we need to put speakup inside the box with
    Hi all,Charles> internal quality speech.  That will expand the
    Hi all,Charles> user base because we won't be hunting around for
    Hi all,Charles> hardware that is slowly disappearing.

    Hi all,Charles>          Next we need to look at the usability
    Hi all,Charles> issue.  This does not mean we try and change the
    Hi all,Charles> nature of Linux and it's syntax, but we do need to
    Hi all,Charles> look at any avenues to either make it more easy
    Hi all,Charles> for folks to learn the context through tutorials
    Hi all,Charles> for example or possible other ways.

    Hi all,Charles>          In the end, Linux is a robust product
    Hi all,Charles> that need not be seen as having only one road to
    Hi all,Charles> access.  So let's stop making assumptions about
    Hi all,Charles> the people who are only trying to use this cool
    Hi all,Charles> operating system and start making an environment
    Hi all,Charles> that supports all who want to use it.

    Hi all,Charles> -- Charlie Crawford.  At 04:34 PM 5/19/02 -0400,
    Hi all,Charles> you wrote:
    >> I think that most people know how to search for things on the
    >> internet. I think you need to stop and think about the fact
    >> that not all people are good at finding things and that's why
    >> we ask for help. If I could find all of the answers to my
    >> problems, I wouldn't be asking.:p Before you start treating new
    >> people like their idiots, try to remember that we're all
    >> different, we all learn in different ways, and sometimes we
    >> miss stuff.
    >>
    >>
    >>
    >> On Sun, 19 May 2002, Janina Sajka wrote:
    >>
    >> > All right, Newbies, Listen Up!
    >> >
    >> > There's something called Google. It's your friend. You use it
    >> > with your favorite web browser. It's real easy and it's lynx
    >> > friendly. And, it finds the answers to almost all of the
    >> "where > do I find" questions I've seen on this list in the
    >> last 6 months, > and puts them on the first screen of results.
    >> >
    >> > Learn to use Google. Keep it open in a second console.
    >> >
    >> > The field where you type in your search string is the fourth
    >> > field on the main Google screen. The submit button is the
    >> next > field.
    >> >
    >> > This is not rocket science. It isn't even hard.
    >> >
    >> >
    >> > _______________________________________________ > Speakup
    >> mailing list > Speakup at braille.uwo.ca >
    >> http://speech.braille.uwo.ca/mailman/listinfo/speakup
    >> >
    >>
    >>
    >> _______________________________________________ Speakup mailing
    >> list Speakup at braille.uwo.ca
    >> http://speech.braille.uwo.ca/mailman/listinfo/speakup

    Hi all,Charles> _______________________________________________
    Hi all,Charles> Speakup mailing list Speakup at braille.uwo.ca
    Hi all,Charles> http://speech.braille.uwo.ca/mailman/listinfo/speakup

--
Ann K. Parsons
email:  akp at eznet.net ICQ Number:  33006854
WEB SITE:  http://home.eznet.net/~akp
"All that is gold does not glitter.  Not all those who wander are lost."
JRRT

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