This is a thank you from a recent project to deliver a blind-accessible laptop to a former mountaineer who has very limited eyesight and no internet access. Now he can go to cafes with his new laptop and access email and other web-based resources (and entertainment). — November 24, 2012 To Whom It May Concern: … Continue reading
Tag Archives: Ubuntu
Ubuntu accessibility: magnification and large text
The advantage of a 3d desktop If you are lucky enough to have a recent computer with a graphics card that works with Unity 3D, you can simply install compizconfig-settings-manager sudo apt-get install compizconfig-settings-manager And then enable screen zoom and screen magnification from within those. They are wonderful tools. Also, you might be wondering why … Continue reading
Computers for people who don’t see (well)
Someone recently approached me at work with some computer questions. I happened to mention the Greater Salem Technology Equity Project (GSTEP) and our recent project to supply training computers for Oregon Commission for the Blind and Sunnyside Organics, and she immediately had an idea: An old laptop a friend bought for her was sitting unused … Continue reading
Spreading the love
We spent a day of our vacation down in sunny, warm maritime Southern California out in East LA helping helping another ally transition to free (libre) open-source software. The training included several staff and community members and lasted from about 2pm until about 7:30pm at night. Topics covered included: What is free, open-source software (FOSS)? … Continue reading
Helping another ally!
GSTEP is helping Community Union’s One Million NIU (OMNIU) initiative in Los Angeles transition to using free, open-source software (FOSS) for its Technology Redeployment Program (TRP). FOSS can support OMNIU’s goals in many ways, including the ability to easily customize the language settings of individual user profiles on a system for people who speak English as a Second … Continue reading
Our operating system of choice
We use and prefer Lubuntu, a light-weight version of Ubuntu Linux. Why? OS News sums it up for us: As per previous articles in this series at OS News, my interest in lightweight operating systems stems from my activity in refurbishing computers for charity. The best software for this purpose is: Resource light — charitable donations are between five … Continue reading
Learning our client’s needs
[NOTE: Edited and updated from original Feb 28 publishing date] Our technology grant to Sunnyside Organics and Oregon Commission for the Blind has been a great learning opportunity and quite a process for us. It requires us to think differently in order to address the needs of the people we are intending to serve. Previously, we tried to use Linux … Continue reading
GSTEP 