Re: [Accessibility] resident evil

[Bill Cox]

I've just missed the deadline... I wont be mad if this gets censored
on gnu.org lists.

Anyway, I agree with Eric that we should find a home for
programming-by-voice development, and that it should put accessibility
first, and software freedom second, with a goal to work towards free
software versions of the entire accessibility stack.  I also think we
should have a free software version, in addition to a Naturally
Speaking interface, right from the beginning.  This will allow
developers who do put software freedom first to participate, and it
will help reach the goal of a high-performance free software stack
sooner.  However, Eric is right, Naturally Speaking is not just a
little more productive, it's way ahead of even other commercial
offerings.  Our contributors will be more efficient using it, probably
for a couple of years, maybe more.

I disagree that we should work to make a functional replacement of
Naturally Speaking.  Instead, we should work towards competitive
free-software continuous large-vocabulary speech recognition, in
parallel with developing/enhancing speech-enabled application
interfaces.  However, let's not duplicate Naturally Speaking's
limitations, and let's keep it focused on the needs of people who
can't type.

Bill

On Fri, Jul 30, 2010 at 11:51 AM, Eric S. Johansson <address@hidden> wrote:
>  On 7/30/2010 9:38 AM, Chris Hofstader wrote:
>>
>> All,
>>
>> I think that everyone on both sides of the free software priorities debate
>> has had the opportunity to participate and express their views. I think that
>> all points of view have been adequately represented and that we are seeing
>> nothing more than repetition and argument for the sake of argument.
>> Therefore, if anyone posts to this list on either side of the debate
>> (excepting rms who is my boss and can over-rule me <smile>) after noon EST,
>> I will change the list to a moderated status and start rejecting messages on
>> this subject.
>
> good thing I read my messages this morning. :-) I have to file comments
> about how to move forward. They're consistent with free software principles
> of nonfree software exclusion. I'm trying to think outside the box and find
> ways of accommodating accessibility needs first, free software second.
>
> Resident evil I:
>
> Build/find a new home for developers willing to build speech driven user
> environments and, under the principle that accessibility comes first and
> nonfree components are acceptable as interim solution while the
> accessibility apartment is under construction. At the soonest possible
> moment, nonfree components will be replaced with free components.
>
> from a practical perspective, this means using NaturallySpeaking and
> integrating it with free software tools such as Emacs so that disabled
> developers can contribute to the project or even make a living.
>
> Resident evil II:
>
> Jonathan Swift inspired me to suggest this. Build accessibility framework
> complete with integration with NaturallySpeaking but keep it completely
> nonfree until the day that the free software foundation releases a
> functional equivalent to NaturallySpeaking. We would put in writing the
> pledge that on that day our software will become free in every way the free
> software foundation considers important.
>
> I find this idea attractive because it may be a way that we can give
> disabled developers sufficient work that they can live and have a decent
> life. We could fund a support center. We could fund training seminars across
> the country. We could make it possible to spread the word and give injured
> people some measure of control back in their lives.
>
> I'm sure this modest proposal might get some people upset and they might
> react to it like we are eating babies but I assure you that  parts of it are
> tongue-in-cheek. I am serious about why I find accessibility attractive. A
> separate home does make sense so that both important principles of
> supporting the disabled now and making incremental progress to a completely
> free future.
>
>
>
> *thank you Chris* and finished with eight minutes to spare
>
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