Installation
Complete desktop
If you want to install a complete new desktop, on a physical computer or in a virtual machine, or if you are looking for steps to make and already installed desktop accessible, read our guide how to install the whole environment:
The below chapters on this page deal with installation of the various components.
Accessibility Tools
Orca
Screen reader
| Ubuntu UI | In Synaptic package manager, install gnome-orca |
|---|---|
| Debian/Ubuntu Command | sudo apt-get install gnome-orca |
Try it:
| in Gnome | ALT-F2, type 'orca' |
|---|---|
| in terminal | orca |
Emacs + speechd-el
Emacs environment (Read more)
| Ubuntu UI | In Synaptic package manager, install emacs and speechd-el |
|---|---|
| Debian/Ubuntu Command | sudo apt-get install emacs speechd-el |
Try it: :in Gnome: ALT-F2, type 'emacs', once it starts, ALT-x speechd-speak ENTER :in terminal: emacs, once it starts, ALT-x speechd-speak ENTER
BrlTTY
Interface to Braille displays
| Ubuntu | Installation of BrlTTY in Ubuntu |
|---|---|
| Debian Command | sudo apt-get install brltty |
Speech Dispatcher
Interface to speech synthesis (Read more)
| Ubuntu UI | In Synaptic package manager, install speech-dispatcher, libspeechd2, python-speechd |
|---|---|
| Debian/Ubuntu Command | sudo apt-get install speech-dispatcher libspeechd2 python-speechd |
Try it:
Type 'spd-say test' in terminal or run Orca. If it doesn't work, try running 'spd-conf -d' in the terminal to check problems.
Latest stable version of Speech Dispatcher
In Ubuntu:
- sudo add-apt-repository ppa:dusek/spd
- sudo apt-get update
- sudo apt-get install speech-dispatcher libspeechd2 python-speechd
- killall speech-dispatcher
Sound Icons
Sound representation of characters and events as a complement of speech synthesis (Read more)
| Ubuntu UI | In Synaptic package manager, install sound-icons |
|---|---|
| Debian/Ubuntu Command | sudo apt-get install sound-icons |
Festival
High quality multi-lingual speech synthesizer
| Ubuntu UI | Installation of Festival on Ubuntu |
|---|---|
| Debian/Ubuntu Command | sudo apt-get install festival festival-freebsoft-utils |
Try it: :in Orca: Select Settings, select Festival as a speech module, select your preferred voice :in speechd-el: ALT-x speechd-set-output-module ENTER festival ENTER
Czech Voices
In Ubuntu Oneiric (11.10) and later:
| Ubuntu UI | In Synaptic package manager, install festival-czech-ph, festvox-czech-krb, festvox-czech-dita and festvox-czech-machac |
|---|---|
| Debian/Ubuntu Command | sudo apt-get install festvox-czech-{ph,krb,dita,machac} |
In Ubuntu Natty (11.04) and before:
| Ubuntu UI | In System > Administration > Software Sources > Other Software, click "Add" and type in ppa:dusek/voice-czech and confirm. Then in Synaptic package manager festival-czech-ph, festvox-czech-krb, festvox-czech-dita and festvox-czech-machac |
|---|---|
| Debian/Ubuntu Command | sudo add-apt-repository ppa:dusek/voice-czech, then sudo apt-get install festvox-czech-{ph,krb,dita,machac} |
Other Voices
| Ubuntu UI | In Synaptic package manager, search for 'festvox' and choose the voice to install |
|---|---|
| Debian/Ubuntu Command | sudo apt-cache search festvox, then sudo-apt-get install festvox-<voice> |
eSpeak
Fast and versatile multi-lingual synthesizer
| Ubuntu UI | In Synaptic package manager, install espeak |
|---|---|
| Debian/Ubuntu Command | sudo apt-get install espeak |
Try it: :in Gnome: ALT-F2, type 'espeak test' and press enter. You should hear 'test'.
Applications
Firefox
Web browser
| Ubuntu UI | In Synaptic package manager, install firefox |
|---|---|
| Debian/Ubuntu Command | sudo apt-get install firefox |
Try it:
| in Gnome | ALT-F2, type 'firefox' |
|---|
Thunderbird
Email client
| Ubuntu UI | In Synaptic package manager, install thunderbird |
|---|---|
| Debian/Ubuntu Command | sudo apt-get install thunderbird |
Try it:
| in Gnome | ALT-F2, type 'thunderbird' |
|---|
OpenOffice.org
Word processor and Office suite
| Ubuntu UI | In Synaptic package manager, install openoffice.org |
|---|---|
| Debian/Ubuntu Command | sudo apt-get install openoffice.org |
Try it:
| in Gnome | ALT-F2, type 'openoffice.org' |
|---|
VMware
Virtual computers
- Go to http://downloads.vmware.com/d/info/desktop_downloads/vmware_player/3_0
- Under 'Product Downloads', find 'VMware Player' and press the 'Download' button next to it
- On next page, you will have to register (search for form below the 'New to VMware' heading'), choose 'Continue'
- On next page, select country, choose a password and confirm agreement with the license, choose 'Register'
- If successful, there is a page informing you that you need to see your email
- You get an email with a link 'Activate now' which you need to first visit to activate your account. Type in your password.
- This will bring you onto a page where you can download. Select an appropriate version (32 or 64 bit Linux VMware Player) and click the 'Download' button next to it. Save it on disk.
- The .bundle file is executable, execute it. It will launch an accessible installer which will take you through the installation process.
Notes
Synaptic Package Manager
In Ubuntu/Gnome, you can install packages using the Synaptic Package Manager. You can find it in the main menu as System -> Administration -> Synaptic package Manager. The easiest way to install a given package is to first type it's name in the search window, then find it in the list of results and check its toggle button.