Linux: BRLTTY V2.0 Released

[mail_bEi_rene.simplenet.com (Rene Ludwig)]

Rene Ludwig, Hauptstr.33, 08138 Niedermuelsen, Voice+49-37604-4739 oder 4839

Donnerstag, 23.07.98

Hallo Zusammen,
hier mal wieder etwas zum Thema Linux:

Die Version 2.0 der Software BRLTTY wurde vor kurzem im Netz  
veroeffentlicht. BRLTTY ist eine Software, die Braillezeilen unter Linux  
ansteuert. Unterstuetzt werden z. B. die Tieman Combibraille, Alva und  
Papenmeier Zeilen.
Ich hatte eine fruehere Version von BRLTTY schon mal mit meiner  
Combibraille am Laufen, und das klappte ohne Probleme. Man hat hier  
allerdings im Gegensatz zur Hardwareloesung den Nachteil, dass Linux und  
BRLTTY erstmal mit sehender Hilfe installiert werden muss, da es sich ja  
hier um eine Softwareloesung handelt. Aber wenn es einmal laeuft...

Hier das Announcement aus der Blinux Mailing-Liste:

Ciao.
Rene

-- forwarded Message --
#: MC2-53EA-2  [MAIL]
    22-Jul-98  21:02
Sb: BRLTTY version 2.0 is out!
Fm: INTERNET:blinux-list_bEi_redhat.com
To: Rene Ludwig 100561,3660

BRLTTY - Access software for Unix for a blind person
         using a soft Braille terminal

Version 2.0, July 1998

Copyright (C) 1995-1998 by The BRLTTY Team, All rights reserved.

Nicolas Pitre <nico_bEi_cam.org>
St‚phane Doyon <s.doyon_bEi_videotron.ca>
Nikhil Nair <nn201_bEi_cus.cam.ac.uk>
(and others)

Home Page: http://www.cam.org/~nico/brltty

If you have any interest in BRLTTY, please drop us a note. We are
interested in knowing who BRLTTY users are and how many there are. Even if
all goes well and you have no problems with this package, please let us
know you're there and tell us which brand of display you use. If you have
problems, we will be happy to help.  If you have suggestions, comments or
if you wish to contribute, you are welcome!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------


INTRODUCTION TO BRLTTY
======================

While soft Braille displays have been used for some years under MS-DOS,
and are even starting to be used under Windows, it seems that they have
not been used on Unix consoles so much.  This could well be because blind
people have been able to access Unix systems through accessible terminals.
With the advent of PC-based Unix systems (such as Linux), the need becomes
evident.

BRLTTY attempts to fill this gap.  It runs as a daemon, possibly started
at boot-time, and allows a soft Braille user to access text mode
applications directly from the Linux's virtual consoles.  Since BRLTTY is
written as a daemon, it should allow a user a completely free choice of
application and development tools.


FEATURES
========

  -  Full implementation of the standard screen review facilities.
  -  A wide range of additional optional features, including blinking
     cursor and capital letters, screen freezing for leisurely review,
     attribute display and attribute underlining to locate highlighted text,
     hypertext links, etc.
  -  `Intelligent' cursor routing.  This allows easy movement of the cursor
     in text editors etc. without moving the hands from the Braille
     display.
  -  A cut & paste function.  This is particularly useful for copying long
     filenames, complicated commands etc.
  -  An on-line help facility.
  -  A configuration menu.
  -  Support for multiple Braille codes.
  -  Modular design allows relatively easy addition of drivers for other
     Braille displays, or even (hopefully) porting to other Unix-like
     platforms.
  -  Basic speech complement support.


CURRENTLY SUPPORTED HARDWARE
============================

BRLTTY requires Linux kernel 1.1.92 or later (for `/dev/vcsa0').  It has
been tested on
  -  a variety of PCs: both laptops and desktops; processors from
     386SX20 to Pentium with a huge range of memory sizes; most
     Linux distributions including Debian, Slackware and Red Hat;
  -  a number of Linux kernels, including both 1.2.13 and 2.0.x.
  -  a DEC Alpha: only tested once, under Red Hat Alpha Linux on a
     noname board kindly lent to the Cambridge University Computer
     Laboratory by DEC in Reading, England.

The following Braille displays are supported (serial communication
only):
  - Tieman B.V.: CombiBraille 25/45/85;
  - Alva B.V.: ABT3xx series;
  - Telesensory Systems Inc.: PowerBraille 40 / 65/81;
    Navigator 20/40/80 (latest firmware version only?).
  - Papenmeier Screen 2D Terminal
  - EuroBraille family of displays (tested only on ClioBraille 40)


Where to find it
================

BRLTTY version 2.0 can be downloaded from the following FTP sites:

	sunsite.unc.edu	/pub/Linux/system/access/brltty-2.0.tar.gz
	ftp.leb.net	/pub/blinux/brltty-2.0.tar.gz

If it's not there, it may still be in the incoming directory.

It is also possible to download the package from the home page at:

	http://www.cam.org/~nico/brltty



Nicolas Pitre, B. ing.
nico_bEi_cam.org


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