You must be familiar with Ubuntu, well, maybe have been used it as alternative operating system in a PCs or Laptops. Obviously not only sighted people has interested in Linux, but also visually impaired people want to taste it. Generally, blind people used to operate a Windows-besed OS with screen readers when he works, plays, and studies on their computer, however screen readers which it's function change the text that appears on the monitor to output as a sound is quite expensive, about $ 800 to $ 1200, they have to spend money for it. Don't worry, Regarding to that problems Vinux give solutions and you don't have to pay even only 1 penny.
Vinux is a remastered version of Ubuntu 10.10 Maverick Meerkat which optimised for the needs of blind and partially sighted people. By default it provides three screen-readers, two full-screen magnifiers, global font-size and colour changing facilities as well as support for USB Braille displays. It can be run from a Live CD without making any changes to your hard drive. If you like it you can install to a USB pendrive or to your hard drive either alongside Windows, or as a complete replacement for it. There is also a virtual version available which can run Vinux as a guest operating system using VMWare Player on Windows.
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| Vinux Linux Desktop Screenshoot |
Why Vinux ?
Why should you choose/try this variant (Vinux), beside of some reason above vinux has other advantages, here they are :
- Automatic: Vinux can immediately run through bootable CD/DVD or Flash Drive without installed into hard disk, so you (or blind people) do not have bothered to do a Linux installation which requires extra knowledge.
- Ready to Use: Vinux has supported by hundreds of sound card, so that screen readers will automatically run when booting. In addition, Vinux has supported Braille display device, so the information displayed Vinux can be issued by the Braille display device and can be directly touched by the blind.
- Easy and up to date: Vinux could be a good learning medium because it supports a GUI (Graphical User Interface) and use a same core as Ubuntu, so that the blind will get same computing experience as windows desktop or Ubuntu. In addition, this modified version is not so complicated and easy to navigate.
How to install Vinux in a PCs or Laptops ?
After you get any explanation above, you must be interested to taste this new variant of ubuntu, right ?, Some things should be prepared are :
- Download Vinux iso file
Before you start installation, download vinux iso file in their official website, here http://vinuxproject.org/downloads.
- Checking the md5sum on an ISO file
You should check the md5sum of the file you chose to download before attempting to burn it to CD/DVD. If the file has been corrupted in anyway during the download the md5sum will not match the one provided on the website and you will need to download it again.
- Burning an ISO to a CD/DVD or Place in your Flash Drive.
You can use a third party burning application like Nero and Gnome Baker, Otherways you can use USB Flash Drive as alternative device to booting Vinux from removable media, a tutorial how to booting (installing) Vinux from USB Flash Drive can be emmulated here.
- Install or Live CD
You can install vinux on your hard disk or taste it by Live CD (Live on Flash Drive) now, the way to install it not much different from ubuntu so you will be able to handle it very well.
- Troubleshooting Problem
If you have any difficulties and problem about installation, system requirement, setting, sound, video or something like how to connect vinux to braile display divice, you can visit their official support in this page http://groups.google.com/group/vinux-support.
yes this is it, let's support the tag line of ubuntu 'Linux for human being' actuallized in our world.