Why do you use Linux? expanded from Converting text to mp3

Fri Jan 28 04:13:39 UTC 2022

I found the espeak-ng.conf file under etc. I changed the rate settings
in that file, and nothing happened. I also found the same file right
inside the ~/config directory. I changed that one too. My speech is
still painfully slow! Nothing changed. Do I have to create all the
folders for the original path that you gave me? Or is something wrong
with the new rate values I used? I am stuck, and this simple thing
really should not be this hard, especially since the first thing most
of us do is adjust the speaking rate. I wish someone would explain
what's up with that.

Amanda[0]

On 1/27/22, Linux for blind general discussion <blinux-list at redhat.com> wrote:
> Hi Amanda,
>
> Assuming you are using Espeak-ng (the default), you can speed up Orca's
> speech by editing the file
> ~/.config/speech-dispatcher/modules/espeak-ng.conf.
> Look for lines starting with "EspeakMinRate", "EspeakNormalRate", and
> "EspeakMaxRate". The values are in words per minute. Adjust them to your
> preference and let us know if it helps.
>
> Now for my Linux story:
>
> I started using Linux in 2006, when I was still in high school. I was very
> much interested in Unix, so I first experimented with Cygwin, and later
> ordered an Ubuntu live CD via the post.
> A bit later I switched to Fedora Core 3 modified with Speakup, which was
> what I was using when the Windows half of my computer broke itself in 2008.
> I then decided to learn to do everything on Linux, rather than taking the
> trouble to fix Windows.
>
> Interestingly, when I applied to study Computer Science after school, one
> of the concerns of the University was that the CS degree required the use
> of Linux, and they were unsure how accessible that would be. Of course I
> was able to demonstrate to them how I actually use Linux, which made
> convincing them a bit easier. I must mention that at the time (and still to
> an extent), computer science was a degree really not often studied by blind
> people here in South Africa.
>
> For the most part I have now used Linux full time for about 14 years,
> though I do maintain a virtual machine with Windows 10 for the times when I
> have to test Windows software for my work.
> For me, the biggest advantage of Linux is customizability. I have my setup
> configured exactly how I want it, for instance: a screen session on console
> 1, Emacs with Emacspeak on console 2, and graphical stuff on console 6. My
> text consoles are configured to be huge, since the character size makes no
> difference to me, and I would rather have to scroll less.
>
> The times I have to boot up my virtual machine, I am surprised by how
> different the experience is, with multiple pre-installed services
> immediately demanding my attention, asking me to sign into cloud services,
> and performing background tasks which I did not order, but with no easy way
> of disabling. That said, had I been a full time Windows user, I probably
> would have known how to configure Windows exactly how I want it as well, so
> I guess a big part of it is also what one is used to and comfortable with.
>
> Regards,
>
> Rynhardt
>
> On Thu, Jan 27, 2022 at 5:43 AM Linux for blind general discussion <
> blinux-list at redhat.com> wrote:
>
>>
>> Dang, y'all are old!
>>
>> I'm in a Computer Science graduate program. It's practically required
>> that I have a Linux machine. I don't use it Linux exclusively. In
>> fact, I just got this Ubuntu machine that I am on now. Why is Orca's
>> speech so slow? I have it sped up to 100%, and it's still way too
>> slow! Speaking of customization, the NVDA screen reader on windows
>> allows me to set the speech rate to a level that is comfortable for
>> me.
>>
>> Amanda[0]
>>
>> On 1/26/22, Linux for blind general discussion <blinux-list at redhat.com>
> wrote:
>> > I use linux exclusively and for several reasons.
>> >
>> > 1. I worked in Unix and  SunOS since 1986. So Linux was a familiar
>> > environment
>> > to transition into.
>> >
>> > 2. Because once I get it  to work, it works. That keyboard
> configuration I
>> > mentioned
>> > occurred years ago and I haven't touched it since not even when I
> switched
>> > to a different machine. Not even when I switched to different
>> > keyboards.
>> > Not even when I switched to different versions of Linux.
>> >
>> > 3. Linux does what I want without backtalk, second guessing, ads,
> unwanted
>> > upgrading, or mysterious crashes.
>> >
>> >
>> > 4. Linux trades learning for power and flexibility.
>> > The few times   I tried learning Windows I quickly grew frustrated at
> just
>> > how limited the software was and
>> > how it forced the user to do things its way instead of letting me do
> them MY
>> > way.
>> > I spent more time fighting with windows than getting things done.
>> >
>> > 5. Everyone I know who uses Windows, spends far too much time
> complaining
>> > about windows, fixing the
>> > many problems windows causes by its quirks, arcane mysteries,
> shortcomings,
>> > and built in faults,
>> > so I see no reason to give it yet another try.
>> >
>> > On Wed, Jan 26, 2022 at 09:19:09PM -0500, Linux for blind general
> discussion
>> > wrote:
>> >> Okay  then,
>> >> This illustrates another point which got touched  on in a different
>> >> thread
>> >> as well.
>> >> The, you must be prepared to do programming if you are going to use
> Linux
>> >> fluidly, if at all.
>> >> On an entirely different list I am on, folks were complaining about
>> >> windows
>> >> 10 and windows 11, because of the changes.
>> >> Computers are increasingly such critical parts of our lives, banking
>> >> shopping, even voting, that many on the list spoke of just wanting to
> sit
>> >> down at their computer and have things work...so they still use older
>> >> editions of things like Windows  XP?  and Windows  7.
>> >> I admit that is part of why the out of the box concept discussed here
>> >> where
>> >> Access is concerned seems a bit, speaking personally, like a
>> >> misconception.
>> >> Few on the list I referenced above are using adaptive tools, and some
> of
>> >> them are scientists, with many not wanting configuring to be a part of
>> >> their
>> >> computer lives.
>> >>  So, why do you use Linux?
>> >> what makes it worth the time the training and the trial  / error?
>> >> Oh, and is it your only operating system?
>> >> Want to ask the latter because I know someone who indeed uses Linux
>> >> exclusively, vowing never to touch windows again.
>> >> Please feel free to express in detail, never mind my personal
> situation,
>> >> because the journalist in me is interested as well.
>> >> Karen
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> On Wed, 26 Jan 2022, Linux for blind general discussion wrote:
>> >>
>> >> > Fair point.
>> >> >
>> >> > As regards the keyboard, I agree with the main keyboard philosophy,
> and
>> >> > in fact speakup does allow you to customize it to use the main
> keyboard
>> >> > instead of the
>> >> > keypad. However, it took me a while to customize it to my liking and
>> >> > required quite a bit of study and generating of personal keymaps, so
>> >> > might not be of any interest to those who aren't comfortable making
>> >> > some low level modifications.
>> >> >
>> >> > On Wed, Jan 26, 2022 at 08:16:08PM -0500, Linux for blind general
>> >> > discussion wrote:
>> >> > > Which may illustrate my point.
>> >> > > I can use those without changing what I have now.
>> >> > > Speaking personally if Linux does not provide equal access to both
>> >> > > hardware
>> >> > > and  software speech, in both its command line and graphical
>> >> > > platforms, I am
>> >> > > unsure  just where the advantage is for me personally.
>> >> > > One thing I personally disliked with speakup, at least the times I
>> >> > > tried it
>> >> > > years back was the need to remove my hands from the keyboard for
> many
>> >> > > things.
>> >> > > That may not hold true all the way around, but I am a solid typist
> and
>> >> > > do
>> >> > > not like having to remove may hands, say use the number pad, if I
> want
>> >> > > as I
>> >> > > work content.
>> >> > > That is me though, which is one magical thing about personal
>> >> > > computers.
>> >> > > everyone brings their desires and usage goals to their machines.
>> >> > > Which to my mind again personally means Linux should, if it
> actually
>> >> > > can, be
>> >> > > flexible enough for all choices to work in it command line and
>> >> > > graphical.
>> >> > > Karen
>> >> > >
>> >> > >
>> >> > >
>> >> > > On Wed, 26 Jan 2022, Linux for blind general discussion wrote:
>> >> > >
>> >> > > > I don't use Firefox. I use a text based browser, either lynx,
> w3m,
>> >> > > > or links (the chain) depending.
>> >> > > >
>> >> > > > On Wed, Jan 26, 2022 at 07:48:42PM -0500, Linux for blind
>> >> > > > general
>> >> > > > discussion wrote:
>> >> > > > > Rudy,
>> >> > > > > As an example, may I ask what edition  of  Firefox you are
> running
>> >> > > > > with that
>> >> > > > > dectalk Express?
>> >> > > > > Karen
>> >> > > > >
>> >> > > > >
>> >> > > > >
>> >> > > > > On Wed, 26 Jan 2022, Linux for blind general discussion wrote:
>> >> > > > >
>> >> > > > > > Karen,
>> >> > > > > > I use Linux speakup with a Dectalk express speech
> synthesizer.
>> >> > > > > > And I believe speakup also handles the
>> >> > > > > > slot card version of dectalk though you'll need a desktop PC
>> >> > > > > > that supports it, so the software is there.
>> >> > > > > >
>> >> > > > > >
>> >> > > > > > Rudy
>> >> > > > > >
>> >> > > > > > On Wed, Jan 26, 2022 at 05:22:35PM -0500, Linux for blind
>> >> > > > > > general discussion wrote:
>> >> > > > > > > Kyle,
>> >> > > > > > > i do not consider my hardware decktalk provided via my
> reading
>> >> > > > > > > edge to be an
>> >> > > > > > > example of text to speech.
>> >> > > > > > > By definition, and there are many, the term, which refers
> to
>> >> > > > > > > taking
>> >> > > > > > > information in text format  and  rendering it aloud does
> not,
>> >> > > > > > > speaking
>> >> > > > > > > personally,  equal pronunciation ease.
>> >> > > > > > > In fact one theory about this has to do with preserving
>> >> > > > > > > the
>> >> > > > > > > audiobook
>> >> > > > > > > market.
>> >> > > > > > > granted, as  was pointed out in a thread some time ago, I
> am
>> >> > > > > > > not likely to
>> >> > > > > > > learn about Linux screen readers, no driver exists for my
>> >> > > > > > > hardware speech,
>> >> > > > > > > and software synthesizer sources  currently do a number on
> my
>> >> > > > > > > brain.
>> >> > > > > > > Karen
>> >> > > > > > >
>> >> > > > > > >
>> >> > > > > > >
>> >> > > > > > > On Wed, 26 Jan 2022, Linux for blind general discussion
>> >> > > > > > > wrote:
>> >> > > > > > >
>> >> > > > > > > > That being said, the audiophile in me cannot resist
> pointing
>> >> > > > > > > > out that
>> >> > > > > > > > pronunciation abilities of tts are of far less quality
> than
>> >> > > > > > > > those
>> >> > > > > > > > provided by many actual screen readers, at least the
> ones I
>> >> > > > > > > > have
>> >> > > > > > > > used...which???? does not include any for Linux.
>> >> > > > > > > >
>> >> > > > > > > >
>> >> > > > > > > > That being said, the technofile in me cannot resist
> pointing
>> >> > > > > > > > out the
>> >> > > > > > > > fact that every screen reader for every OS uses nothing
> but
>> >> > > > > > > > TTS
>> >> > > > > > > > technology to read the screen. Well, I guess BeMyEyes
>> >> > > > > > > > doesn't, but it's
>> >> > > > > > > > not exactly a screen reader, unless you need the
> volunteer
>> >> > > > > > > > to read a
>> >> > > > > > > > screen for you.
>> >> > > > > > > >
>> >> > > > > > > > ~ Kyle
>> >> > > > > > > >
>> >> > > > > > > > _______________________________________________
>> >> > > > > > > > Blinux-list mailing list
>> >> > > > > > > > Blinux-list at redhat.com
>> >> > > > > > > > https://listman.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list
>> >> > > > > > > >
>> >> > > > > >
>> >> > > > > > > _______________________________________________
>> >> > > > > > > Blinux-list mailing list
>> >> > > > > > > Blinux-list at redhat.com
>> >> > > > > > > https://listman.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list
>> >> > > > > >
>> >> > > > > >
>> >> > > > > > --
>> >> > > > > > Rudy Vener
>> >> > > > > > Website: http://www.rudyvener.com
>> >> > > > > > Twitter: https://twitter.com/RudySalt
>> >> > > > > > The difference between truth and falsehood is that truth
> remains
>> >> > > > > > constant no matter which political party holds the majority.
>> >> > > > > >  - A. R. Vener
>> >> > > > > >
>> >> > > > > > _______________________________________________
>> >> > > > > > Blinux-list mailing list
>> >> > > > > > Blinux-list at redhat.com
>> >> > > > > > https://listman.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list
>> >> > > > > >
>> >> > > > > >
>> >> > > > >
>> >> > > > > _______________________________________________
>> >> > > > > Blinux-list mailing list
>> >> > > > > Blinux-list at redhat.com
>> >> > > > > https://listman.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list
>> >> > > >
>> >> > > > --
>> >> > > > Rudy Vener
>> >> > > > Website: http://www.rudyvener.com
>> >> > > > Twitter: https://twitter.com/RudySalt
>> >> > > > The difference between truth and falsehood is that truth remains
>> >> > > > constant no matter which political party holds the majority.
>> >> > > >  - A. R. Vener
>> >> > > >
>> >> > > > _______________________________________________
>> >> > > > Blinux-list mailing list
>> >> > > > Blinux-list at redhat.com
>> >> > > > https://listman.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list
>> >> > > >
>> >> > > >
>> >> > >
>> >> > > _______________________________________________
>> >> > > Blinux-list mailing list
>> >> > > Blinux-list at redhat.com
>> >> > > https://listman.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list
>> >> >
>> >> > --
>> >> > Rudy Vener
>> >> > Website: http://www.rudyvener.com
>> >> > Twitter: https://twitter.com/RudySalt
>> >> > The difference between truth and falsehood is that truth remains
>> >> > constant no matter which political party holds the majority.
>> >> >  - A. R. Vener
>> >> >
>> >> > _______________________________________________
>> >> > Blinux-list mailing list
>> >> > Blinux-list at redhat.com
>> >> > https://listman.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >>
>> >> _______________________________________________
>> >> Blinux-list mailing list
>> >> Blinux-list at redhat.com
>> >> https://listman.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list
>> >
>> > --
>> > Rudy Vener
>> > Website: http://www.rudyvener.com
>> > Twitter: https://twitter.com/RudySalt
>> > The difference between truth and falsehood is that truth remains
> constant no
>> > matter which political party holds the majority.
>> >   - A. R. Vener
>> >
>> > _______________________________________________
>> > Blinux-list mailing list
>> > Blinux-list at redhat.com
>> > https://listman.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list
>> >
>> >
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Blinux-list mailing list
>> Blinux-list at redhat.com <Blinux-list at redhat.com>
>> https://listman.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list
> <https://listman.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list>
>>
> _______________________________________________
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>
>