https://www.channelfutures.com/wp-content/themes/channelfutures_child/assets/images/logo/footer-new-logo.png
  • Home
  • Technologies
    • Back
    • Analytics
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Cloud
    • Data Centers
    • Desktop
    • IoT
    • Mobility
    • Networking
    • Open Source
    • RMM/PSA
    • Security
    • Virtualization
    • Voice/Connectivity
  • Strategy
    • Back
    • Best Practices
    • Business Models
    • Channel 101
    • Channel Programs
    • Channel Research
    • Digital Transformation
    • Diversity & Inclusion
    • Leadership
    • Mergers and Acquisitions
    • Sales & Marketing
    • Specialty Practices
  • MSSP Insider
    • Back
    • Business of Security
    • Cloud and Edge
    • Endpoint
    • Network
    • People and Careers
    • Training and Policies
  • MSP 501
    • Back
    • 2020 MSP 501 Rankings
    • 2020 Hot 101 Rankings
    • 2020 MSP 501 Report
  • Intelligence
    • Back
    • Our Sponsors
    • From the Industry
    • Content Resources
    • COVID-19 Partner Help
    • Galleries
    • Podcasts
    • Reports
    • Videos
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
  • EMEA
  • Awards
    • Back
    • Excellence in Digital Services
    • 2020 MSP 501
    • Top Gun 51
  • Events
    • Back
    • CP Conference & Expo
    • Channel Partners Evolution
    • Channel Evolution Europe
    • Channel Partners Event Coverage
    • Webinars
  • Channel Mentor
    • Back
    • Channel Market Intelligence
    • Channel Educational Series
Channel Futures
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Home
  • Technologies
    • Back
    • Analytics
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Cloud
    • Data Centers
    • Desktop
    • IoT
    • Mobility
    • Networking
    • Open Source
    • RMM/PSA
    • Security
    • Virtualization
    • Voice/Connectivity
  • Strategy
    • Back
    • Best Practices
    • Business Models
    • Channel 101
    • Channel Programs
    • Channel Research
    • Digital Transformation
    • Diversity & Inclusion
    • Leadership
    • Mergers and Acquisitions
    • Sales & Marketing
    • Specialty Practices
  • MSSP Insider
    • Back
    • Business of Security
    • Cloud and Edge
    • Endpoint
    • Network
    • People and Careers
    • Training and Policies
  • MSP 501
    • Back
    • 2020 MSP 501 Rankings
    • 2020 Hot 101 Rankings
    • 2020 MSP 501 Report
  • Intelligence
    • Back
    • Our Sponsors
    • From the Industry
    • Content Resources
    • COVID-19 Partner Help
    • Galleries
    • Podcasts
    • Reports
    • Videos
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
  • EMEA
  • Awards
    • Back
    • Excellence in Digital Services
    • 2020 MSP 501
    • Top Gun 51
  • Events
    • Back
    • CP Conference & Expo
    • Channel Partners Evolution
    • Channel Evolution Europe
    • Channel Partners Event Coverage
    • Webinars
  • Channel Mentor
    • Back
    • Channel Market Intelligence
    • Channel Educational Series
    • Newsletter
  • REGISTER
  • MSPs
  • VARs / SIs
  • Digital Service Providers
  • Cloud Service Providers
  • CHANNEL PARTNERS ONLINE
 Channel Futures

Open Source


Improving Accessibility Major Focus for Next Ubuntu Release

  • Written by Christopher Tozzi
  • November 28, 2011

I’m not sure many people become Ubuntu users because of its accessibility features. But that doesn’t mean Linux developers ignore this issue; on the contrary, as Canonical employee and “Ubuntu Community Manager” Jono Bacon noted recently, accessibility technologies are a key focus of the upcoming 12.04 release. Here’s a look at what to expect.

Tools to assist users who have visual, mobile or other impairments that make computer use extra-difficult have long been present in Ubuntu, of course. Indeed, as Bacon pointed out, ensuring that everyone can “use all software regardless of disability” is a key component of the Ubuntu philosophy.

To this end Ubuntu has traditionally included the Orca magnifier and screen reader in the default software stack. Additional open source accessibility tools, such as the Hawking toolbar, are also available.

At the same time, the advent of compositing window managers several years back made it easier to build accessibility features into the desktop experience. A number of compiz plugins for improving visual contrast, focus and other aspects of the interface can be enabled in the CompizConfig Settings Manager.

Accessibility in Ubuntu 12.04

While there’s already an undercurrent of commitment to assistive technologies in Ubuntu, enhancing and perfecting them has become a focus of Ubuntu developers and community supporters ahead of the upcoming release of version 12.04 of the operating system in the spring, Bacon said.

Unsurprisingly, since 12.04 is a longterm-support (LTS) release, the main point of concern for the time being is on finishing and polishing features already in existence, rather than adding new ones. The development team is accordingly looking for volunteers to test accessibility tools to make sure they’re ready for deployment.

Because the switch to the Unity interface displaced some of the traditional accessibility features present in the Ubuntu desktop when it was based on GNOME 2, however, a little additional development also will be needed to bring Ubuntu 12.04 up to speed on the accessibility front. According to the development blueprint on Launchpad, “Unity 3D is approximately 80 percent accessible, so far as official oneiric packages go, and unity-2d is 99 percent accessible,” but it will take a bit more work to smooth over small but important accessibility gaps before the 12.04 release.

Room for Improvement: Speech Recognition

This task is vital not only because of its primary importance in improving the lives of Ubuntu users with accessibility difficulties, but also to help Linux keep pace with proprietary competitors. Windows has a rich selection of accessibility tools built in, and plenty of other commercial add-ons are available, but Ubuntu doesn’t always match up equally well.

One accessibility area in particular where Ubuntu, and the Linux world generally, has a lot of room for improvement is speech recognition software — which is important for accessibility reasons as well as for a variety of other purposes. A number of open source tools in this genre exist, but as the Ubuntu wiki notes, none really has the polish or completeness of commercial alternatives. Solving this shortcoming would require huge investment which the Linux community might not be able to support easily, but it would be great to see Ubuntu developers adding some consideration to this topic, perhaps after polishing the existing accessibility technologies in the 12.04 release.

Tags: Cloud Service Providers Digital Service Providers MSPs VARs/SIs Networking Open Source

Related


  • 2021 Trends
    2021 Trends: Set the Stage for a Successful 2021
    Here are the biggest 2021 trends to plan for—and how 2020 set the stage for them.
  • Cloud Growth
    SADA SaaS Alliance Aims to Give Members ‘the Best Opportunity to Grow’
    Find out what the managed service provider is doing alongside Google Cloud Platform.
  • Cybersecurity
    Implementing a Layered Cybersecurity Strategy
    Today’s threats use multiple vectors to attack, from malicious email attachments to infected web ads to phishing sites. Criminals combine a range of threat technologies, deployed in numerous stages, to infect computers and networks. This blended approach increases the likelihood of success, the speed of contagion and the severity of damage. The only way to […]
  • Merge road sign
    Today's Dynamic Networks Need a Converged Approach
    Security-driven networking is the new security strategy.

Leave a comment Cancel reply

-or-

Log in with your Channel Futures account

Alternatively, post a comment by completing the form below:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Content

  • Your Cloud Data Is Protected, But Is It Portable?
  • Help Your Customers Mitigate Malware: Viruses, Worms, and Trojans…Oh My!
  • Presidio Plans International Expansion with Arkphire Acquisition
  • Huntress Acquires Level Effect EDR to Beef Up Platform

Galleries

View all

New, Changing Partner Programs: AWS, Tech Data, Avaya, Verizon

January 11, 2021

Industry Perspectives

View all

Help Your Customers Mitigate Malware: Viruses, Worms, and Trojans…Oh My!

January 15, 2021

SMBs’ Cybersecurity Risk Awareness Is Rising

January 13, 2021

Your Cloud Data Is Protected, But Is It Portable?

January 12, 2021

Webinars

View all

Blueprint for a Scalable MSSP Practice in 2021

January 21, 2021

Who’s Behind the Mask? Hacker Personas Explained

January 26, 2021

How Managed Hosting Providers Thrive with the Alternative Cloud

February 24, 2021

White Papers

View all

Why Subscription Business Model

January 15, 2021

The Ultimate MSP Guide to Sales Efficiency

January 14, 2021

Eight Reasons Why MSPs Need IT Industry-Specific Sales Tools

January 14, 2021

Upcoming Events

View all

Channel Partners Virtual

March 2, 2021 - March 4, 2021

Channel Partners Conference & Expo

November 1, 2021 - November 4, 2021

Videos and Fastchats

View all

FASTCHAT: How SOAR Eliminates Security Challenges and Elevates Service Provider Revenues

January 6, 2021

Happy Holidays from Channel Partners & Channel Futures!

December 21, 2020

FASTCHAT: How Old, Unpatched Technologies Are Creating New Security Threats for MSPs and Their Customers

December 3, 2020

Twitter

ChannelFutures

.@IBMServices snaps up #MSP Taos for #hybridcloud expertise. dlvr.it/RqggQR https://t.co/Fy3uPDtLNw

January 16, 2021
ChannelFutures

.@LenovoBusiness launches its thinnest #ThinkPad to date @CES, revamped ThinkBooks and #ThinkReality glasses.… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

January 16, 2021
ChannelFutures

Help your customers mitigate #malware @Tech_Data #cryptolocker #antivirus #ransomware #cybersecurity… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

January 15, 2021
ChannelFutures

Advantages of the Subscription business model for MSPs and IT Resellers @kaspersky dlvr.it/RqgDJn https://t.co/ay694fudp3

January 15, 2021
ChannelFutures

Cloud #distributor @Pax8 launches in UK with leadership team in place. dlvr.it/RqfJWx https://t.co/RsKDCowM5V

January 15, 2021
ChannelFutures

bit.ly/3oO2vFY twitter.com/Craig_Galbrait…

January 15, 2021
ChannelFutures

The Ultimate MSP Guide to Sales Efficiency @zomentum dlvr.it/Rqc63q https://t.co/rHIVLkR01K

January 15, 2021
ChannelFutures

Eight Reasons Why MSPs Need IT Industry-Specific Sales Tools dlvr.it/Rqc62k https://t.co/MQDcIYc7G9

January 15, 2021

MSSP Insider

Newsletters and Updates

Sign up for The Channel Report, Channel Futures Update, MSP 501 Newsletter and more.

Live Channel Events

Get the latest information on the next industry-leading Channel Partners event.

Channel Partners Online

Want more? Find more channel news and analysis on our sister site, Channel Partners.

Media Kit And Advertising

Want to reach our audience? Access our media kit

DISCOVER MORE FROM INFORMA TECH

  • Channel Partners Online
  • Channel Partners Events
  • MSP 501
  • MSSP Insider
  • IoT World Today
  • Webhostingtalk

WORKING WITH US

  • Contact
  • About us
  • Advertise
  • Newsletter

FOLLOW Channel Futures ON SOCIAL

  • Privacy
  • CCPA: “Do Not Sell My Data”
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms
Copyright © 2021 Informa PLC. Informa PLC is registered in England and Wales with company number 8860726 whose registered and Head office is 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.
This website uses cookies, including third party ones, to allow for analysis of how people use our website in order to improve your experience and our services. By continuing to use our website, you agree to the use of such cookies. Click here for more information on our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy.
X