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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hi-</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I have a friend who is completely blind. She
*really* wants to get online and have direct access to email, at the very
least. Currently, her husband is having to read all the information to her
after he downloads it in Windows 95.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>We have three laptops they could use.
One is based on a Cyrix MediaGX 233, another a Pentium II 266, and the
third a 486 DX4/75. I am currently running Slackware on the Pentium II
system without any problems.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Now... JAWS, it seems, would cost them several
hundred dollars. This simply isn't an option; they don't have enough money
to rationalize spending that much just for her to be able to read/listen to
their email herself. There was another Windows screenreader which, if I
remember correctly, was just as expensive.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Are our options any better in the GNU/Linux
realm? I've seen mention of software synthesizers for Linux, but no
mention of screenreaders to go with them... if that is an issue? I also
read Speakup will not work with a software synthesizer, but don't understand why
not, if they're available. Are the hardware synthesizers that are
compatable with Speakup able to interface with the main system via either
PCMCIA, serial/parrallel ports, or USB ports? How expensive would such a
thing be... and where would I look to buy one?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I really really want to help her out. Money
is definitely limited, though. I do hope there are some GPL options
available out there for folks in a situation like this...</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Thank you for any input/direction you are able to
give me!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Rob</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>