JAWS, NVDA, Window-Eyes etc are the popular screen readers in Windows. Also Windows has it’s own narrator, But it is not a full featured screen reader. Windows 8 has some improved accessibility feature. There is a good built-in screen reader in Apple’s Mac operating system. But, Windows and Mac are not freeware, also screen readers except NVDA are not freeware which costs arount $900. There are various Linux distros like Ubuntu and Fedora available with built-in accessibility features. Ubuntu has built-in screen reader called ORCA. Vinux is another Linux distro which created and customized for visually impaired users. And now a new project on the Linux side aims to take such efforts even further with a brand-new Linux distribution specifically targeting disabled users. “I want to build a Linux operating system focused on accessibility,” explains developer Jonathan Nadeau in his Sonar Project campaign page on Indieogogo. “Not just for blind and low vision people, but for people who struggle with dyslexia and learning disabilities as well as accessibility for people with low motor skills and quadriplegics.” Jonathan Nadeau is completely blind who lost his sight in a car accident in 1992. “Since childhood, I've been interested in technology and computing, but accessibility through Free and open source software is much more than just an interest. It's my passion. Currently I'm a full time student and my degree is focused on Business Administration with a minor in Computer Science.” Nadeau says. “ This is so important to me because there are 1 billion people in the world that have some type of disability, and the faster technology moves, the farther we are being left behind. There are 360 million blind and low vision people that live in the world and 90% of these people live in developing countries. It's true that there is proprietary accessible software to help blind and low vision people access a computer, but the average cost of this software is around $900. Since 90% of blind and low vision people live in developing countries, how are they supposed to afford this? In the United states 80% of blind and low vision people are unemployed. The cost of these proprietary screen readers is also prohibitive for them. This is why I want to build an accessible Linux operating system, because not only will it be free (as in cost), but it will be Free (as in source code). Free (as in source code) is the most important part of this. Since the source code will be Free, this means that once the operating system is built, anyone can modify it to improve and enhance what already exists. I want people that depend on assistive technology to use Free software so we can be in control of our own computing and accessibility needs.” Nadeau explains.
Source: Sonar Project campaign page at Indiegogo
Source: Sonar Project campaign page at Indiegogo
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