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There are many types of disabilities and many ways to address them.
There are many types of disabilities and many ways to address them.
At the moment, however, this page concentrates on ways to make
At the moment, however, this page concentrates on ways to make
postmarketOS more accessible to blind and visually impaired users.
pmOS more accessible to blind and visually impaired users.


== Kernel Mods ==
== Devices ==


=== Serial Adaptors ===
The [[All devices]] page lists hundreds of devices, most of which use
one of the [[Wikipedia:ARM architecture|ARM architectures]].
Most of the listed devices use the armv7 (32-bit) architecture
or possibly armhf (32-bit with hardware floating point support).
More recent devices generally use the aarch64 (64-bit) architecture.


Dave Mielke (BRLTTY's developer) says:
The older (armv7 and armhf) devices tend to be cheaper,
<q>It'd be very cool for the kernel to have support for all known USB-to-serial adapters,
but also more limited in memory, storage, and processor speed.
plus any indirectly needed serial support, enabled.
So, they may be more appropriate for use as an email access point, notetaker, etc.
That way, those with older braille devices that only have a serial port would benefit
Looking forward, the aarch64 architecture has many more interesting possibilities.
for the mere extra cost of the adapter cable.
Sure would beat having to purchase a newer braille device.</q>


Martijn Braam says:
== Kernel ==
<q>It depends on the device, of course,
 
but I don't think adding support for usb-serial adapters would be a problem.
In order to support [[Accessibility (Packages)|accessibility packages]],
I already did that to test some things on the PinePhone.
some kernel modifications may be needed.
I guess enabling prolific, ftdi, and ch340 would cover most adapter cables.
These are discussed on the [[Accessibility (Kernel)]] page.
Unfortunately, it would be a per-device kernel tweak.
I'm not sure how much devices have usb serial support built in already.
The allwinner kernel only has CH341 support currently.
It looks like the generic driver is 14.4KB and ch341 adds 4.7KB.
Serial drivers aren't really big...</q>


== Packages ==
== Packages ==


This section is basically a "wish list",
The [[Accessibility (Packages)]] page is basically a "wish list",
describing various add-on packages which could be useful.
describing various add-on packages which could be useful for an accessible version of pmOS.
Unless otherwise noted, all packages are free / open source software.
Feel free to add your own favorites, following the existing format.
 
''Note:''
Because postmarketOS is based on [https://alpinelinux.org/ Alpine Linux],
the information on porting status is mostly derived from the Alpine Linux
[https://pkgs.alpinelinux.org/packages Packages] page.
 
=== BRLTTY ===
 
<q>[http://mielke.cc/brltty BRLTTY] is a
background process (daemon) which provides access to the Linux/Unix console
(when in text mode) for a blind person using a refreshable braille display.
It drives the braille display and provides complete screen review functionality.
Some speech capability has also been incorporated.</q>
 
Ports for several hardware architectures are listed for the Alpine Linux
[https://pkgs.alpinelinux.org/packages?name=brltty&branch=edge edge] branch.
 
=== Edbrowse ===
 
<q>Edbrowse is a combination editor, browser, and mail client that is 100% text based.
The interface is similar to /bin/ed, though there are many more features,
such as editing multiple files simultaneously, and rendering HTML.
This program was originally written for blind users,
but many sighted users have taken advantage of the unique scripting capabilities of this program,
which can be found nowhere else.
A batch job, or cron job, can access web pages on the Internet, submit forms, and send email,
with no human intervention whatsoever.
edbrowse can also tap into databases through odbc.
It was primarily written by Karl Dahlke.</q>
 
No ports are currently listed for Alpine Linux.
 
=== Fenrir ===
 
<q>[https://github.com/chrys87/fenrir Fenrir] is a
modern, modular, flexible, and fast console screenreader.</q>
 
No ports are currently listed for Alpine Linux.
 
=== ircII ===
 
<q>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IrcII ircII]
(pronounced i-r-c-two or irk-two, and sometimes referred to as IRC client, second edition)
is a free, open-source Unix IRC and ICB client written in C.
Initially released in the late 1980s, it is the oldest IRC client still maintained.</q>
 
Ports for several hardware architectures are listed for the Alpine Linux
[https://pkgs.alpinelinux.org/packages?name=ircii&branch=edge edge] and
[https://pkgs.alpinelinux.org/packages?name=ircii&branch=v3.12 v3.12] branches.
 
=== Lynx ===


<q>[https://lynx.invisible-island.net Lynx] is a
== Related issues ==
customizable text-based web browser for use
on cursor-addressable character cell terminals.</q>


Ports for several hardware architectures are listed for the Alpine Linux
* {{issue|2321|pmaports}} - making postmarketOS more accessible for blind and visually impared users
[https://pkgs.alpinelinux.org/packages?name=lynx&branch=edge edge] and
* [https://gitlab.gnome.org/World/Phosh/phosh/-/issues/47 phosh#47] Screen reader support
[https://pkgs.alpinelinux.org/packages?name=lynx&branch=v3.12 v3.12] branches.
* [https://todo.sr.ht/~mil/sxmo-tickets/473 sxmo-tickets#473] accessibility: screen-reader (text-to-speech) in menu
 
=== Orca ===
 
<q>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orca_(assistive_technology) Orca] is a
free and open-source, flexible, extensible screen reader from the GNOME project
for individuals who are blind or visually impaired.
Using various combinations of speech synthesis and braille,
Orca helps provide access to applications and toolkits that support the AT-SPI
(e.g., the GNOME desktop, Mozilla Firefox/Thunderbird, OpenOffice.org/LibreOffice
and GTK+, Qt and Java Swing/SWT applications).</q>
 
Ports for several hardware architectures are listed for the Alpine Linux
[https://pkgs.alpinelinux.org/packages?name=orca&branch=v3.12 v3.12] branch.
 
=== w3m ===
 
<q>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W3m w3m] is a ...
text-based web browser and terminal pager.
It has support for tables, frames, SSL connections, color,
and inline images on suitable terminals.
Generally, it renders pages in a form as true to their original layout as possible.</q>


== Resources ==
== Resources ==
=== Alpine Linux ===
* [https://wiki.alpinelinux.org/wiki/Creating_an_Alpine_package Creating an Alpine package]


=== Pine64, PinePhone ===
=== Pine64, PinePhone ===


* [https://wiki.pine64.org/index.php?title=Accessibility Accessibility] (Pine64)
* [https://wiki.pine64.org/index.php?title=PinePhone_Accessibility PinePhone Accessibility]
* [https://wiki.pine64.org/index.php?title=PinePhone_Accessibility PinePhone Accessibility]


=== postmarketOS ===
=== postmarketOS ===


* [[Input methods]] - options for text input
* [[Accessibility (Kernel)]] - wish list of kernel mods, etc.
* [[Accessibility (Packages)]] - wish list of software packages
* [[All devices]] - comprehensive device porting status
* [[Device categorization]] - explanation of device categories
* [[Device Popularity]] - information on device sales, etc.
* [[Device Wishlist]] - lists of candidate devices for porting
* [[Devices]] - summary of device porting status
* [[Input methods]] - hardware and software options for text input
* [[USB Network]] - using USB to log in from another computer
* [[USB Network]] - using USB to log in from another computer

Latest revision as of 21:47, 1 November 2023

Introduction

There are many types of disabilities and many ways to address them. At the moment, however, this page concentrates on ways to make pmOS more accessible to blind and visually impaired users.

Devices

The All devices page lists hundreds of devices, most of which use one of the ARM architectures. Most of the listed devices use the armv7 (32-bit) architecture or possibly armhf (32-bit with hardware floating point support). More recent devices generally use the aarch64 (64-bit) architecture.

The older (armv7 and armhf) devices tend to be cheaper, but also more limited in memory, storage, and processor speed. So, they may be more appropriate for use as an email access point, notetaker, etc. Looking forward, the aarch64 architecture has many more interesting possibilities.

Kernel

In order to support accessibility packages, some kernel modifications may be needed. These are discussed on the Accessibility (Kernel) page.

Packages

The Accessibility (Packages) page is basically a "wish list", describing various add-on packages which could be useful for an accessible version of pmOS.

Related issues

  • pmaports#2321 - making postmarketOS more accessible for blind and visually impared users
  • phosh#47 Screen reader support
  • sxmo-tickets#473 accessibility: screen-reader (text-to-speech) in menu

Resources

Pine64, PinePhone

postmarketOS