Re: Getting Involved
Bridger Reed-Lewis <[email protected]> Tue, 3 Jun 2025 23:26:26 -0800
| Newsgroups | gmane.comp.kde.devel.accessibility |
|---|---|
| Message-ID | <CAFyN0FKqdD0ML-ksNCtz1CRHL6BypctqjBeC7JbOptE0QXK=Jg@mail.gmail.com> |
--000000000000e5468a0636b9ea1f Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Shervin, thank you for sharing this with us. I am now very very interested in getting a separate computer to try these out. At the moment, I have a steam deck, but I do have plans to purchase a used Thinkpad x1 carbon 10th gen. Once I get that, which will be a few weeks. Let's chat more about these programs because it seems like things have changed since I last really dived into linux. I guess if they're available, I'd like to see about working with KDE to develop a standard for prepackaged accessibility tools, even if that's through a third-party. What do you think? On Tue, Jun 3, 2025 at 10:56=E2=80=AFPM Shervin Emami <shervin.emami@gmail.= com> wrote: > Hi Benson, > > For around 8 years now I've been using speech recognition for many hours > per day to control KDE desktop, since that is my main way of working > despite having chronic RSI. Since my background is in robotics & AI, I've > tried many different alternative interfaces, and gave a talk specifically > for Linux (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3D3aQfwS5pyrg) > > If you're mostly interested in dictation, you should consider OpenAI > Whisper, because it's possibly the most reliable ASR engine at the moment > but also importantly it has very good ASR support for many different > languages and dialects and accents, whereas most ASR is targeted for USA > and UK English. > > Whisper doesn't have an interface for directly dictating into application= s > though. And it's not able to do any commands. I currently use the > open-source Faster-Whisper for dictation (with my own code for typing int= o > applications), and the open-source Kaldi-Active-Grammar + Dragonfly for > typing commands including for programming / typing things on the terminal > or controlling the mouse. ( > https://dragonfly.readthedocs.io/en/latest/kaldi_engine.html) > It's not a clean solution though, the interaction I've set up between > Kaldi and Whisper is quite hacky. But proves that it is very possible! > > Talon ASR (free but closed-source at https://talonvoice.com/) has a > community that have been slowly working towards better interaction with t= he > desktop by voice, they are making excellent solutions for Windows & Mac > where user interface elements have a standardised API. But they say Linux > has been a nightmare to have anything close to a standardised way of > knowing which UI elements are on the screen. And Wayland pretty much > doesn't allow interaction with the screen at all! So unfortunately > Talon has a community of eager developers that want to improve usability = of > speech recognition on Linux, but they have basically given up on Linux > recently due to these 2 issues. > > Cheers, > Shervin Emami. > > > > On Wed, 4 Jun 2025 at 16:38, Bridger Reed-Lewis < > [email protected]> wrote: > >> K I=E2=80=99m going to get those setup, should I only do one or all? >> >> On Tue, Jun 3, 2025 at 22:23 Benson Muite <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> >>> On Wed, Jun 4, 2025, at 9:09 AM, Bridger Reed-Lewis wrote: >>> > Thank you, I wasn't aware of those barriers. While I am aware that th= e >>> > university has strict rules around applications. I believe there coul= d >>> be a >>> > way to get around it, if it's used in an educational and >>> > collaborative environment. The person I need to check with about this= , >>> I am >>> > going to send them an email tomorrow since it's pretty late. Oh, and = I >>> > tried accessing the IRC and Matrix but the channel isn't accepting >>> anyone >>> > else, is there a way for me to get around that? I think it'd be a lot >>> > easier then email >>> >>> >>> >>> For Matrix, accounts on other servers will allow you to access rooms on >>> the >>> kde matrix server. In addition to >>> >>> https://matrix.org/docs/chat_basics/matrix-for-im/#creating-a-matrix-ac= count >>> , >>> you could also make an account on one of the servers listed at: >>> https://servers.joinmatrix.org/ >>> >>> https://apps.kde.org/neochat/ >>> maybe helpful, in addition to other Matrix clients. >>> >>> For irc make an account at http://libera.chat >>> https://apps.kde.org/konversation/ >>> maybe helpful, though there are many other choices for IRC clients. >>> >>> > >>> > On Tue, Jun 3, 2025 at 10:03=E2=80=AFPM Benson Muite < >>> [email protected]> >>> > wrote: >>> > >>> >> >>> >> >>> >> On Wed, Jun 4, 2025, at 8:49 AM, Bridger Reed-Lewis wrote: >>> >> > Well I don=E2=80=99t think it would be useful particularly for UAA= , it=E2=80=99s >>> just I >>> >> > feel a collaboration could be set up depending on the person. And >>> with >>> >> > everything going on federally, a lot of folks at my work are prett= y >>> mad, >>> >> > it=E2=80=99s the reason why I got my article. What I=E2=80=99m goi= ng to do is reach >>> out >>> >> to >>> >> > the engineers/tech departments, to see if anyone is interested in >>> working >>> >> > on this project. Along with connecting with student clubs, I am al= so >>> >> going >>> >> > to install and test what I can with the applications you sent. >>> >> >>> >> Thanks. >>> >> >>> >> > >>> >> > Oh, about the mentoring program you mentioned. I don't think it's = a >>> good >>> >> > fit for me since I have dyscalculia. I've tried with no luck to >>> learn >>> >> > coding. It's just not my thing, what it would be testing along wit= h >>> >> setting >>> >> > up times to chat around ideas, along with networking which i am >>> scary >>> >> good >>> >> > at. >>> >> >>> >> We do use mailing lists, apps also have chat channels, typically on >>> Matrix >>> >> or IRC. >>> >> For Season of KDE, making students and people new to open source >>> aware of >>> >> it >>> >> would be helpful. It provides a structured way for people to >>> contribute >>> >> improvements >>> >> to software that they use, these need not be limited to coding >>> >> contributions. >>> >> >>> >> In the US, many applications require accessibility testing reports >>> before >>> >> they can be >>> >> used in an institution. This can be a barrier to adopting open sour= ce >>> >> software since >>> >> the administrative burden of procuring software which has >>> accessibility >>> >> testing done >>> >> is low compared to getting open source software and improving it to >>> meet >>> >> accessibility >>> >> standards for which the financial cost would likely be ultimately >>> lower, >>> >> thereby allowing >>> >> institutions to make more effective use of their limited funds. >>> >> >>> >> > >>> >> > >>> >> > >>> >> > On Tue, Jun 3, 2025 at 21:37 Benson Muite < >>> [email protected]> >>> >> > wrote: >>> >> > >>> >> >> >>> >> >> >>> >> >> On Wed, Jun 4, 2025, at 7:58 AM, Bridger Reed-Lewis wrote: >>> >> >> > I have heard of him, and it=E2=80=99s one of the reasons why I = want to >>> get >>> >> >> > involved, at the moment I don=E2=80=99t think the university al= lows >>> Linux to >>> >> be >>> >> >> > used, but I could be wrong. At the moment, I am running KDE on = my >>> >> Steam >>> >> >> > Deck. But I=E2=80=99m planning on purchasing a think-pad x1 car= bon Gen 10 >>> >> soon. >>> >> >> One >>> >> >> > area I=E2=80=99d like to see get added is dictation. There's an= abandoned >>> >> project >>> >> >> > here --> https://github.com/abb128/LiveCaptions that could be >>> forked >>> >> >> into a >>> >> >> > simple dictation tool, it's surprisingly, very accurate. >>> >> >> >>> >> >> This seems to build on another library which maybe worth >>> incorporating >>> >> into >>> >> >> KDE applications: >>> >> >> https://github.com/abb128/april-asr >>> >> >> >>> >> >> There are ongoing discussions withing KDE about using tools >>> trained on >>> >> >> data of unknown origin. >>> >> >> >>> >> >> > >>> >> >> > Outside of that, I would need to look because right now there's >>> not a >>> >> >> lot, >>> >> >> > and disability itself is a spectrum. without seeing what you ar= e >>> >> already >>> >> >> > working on, giving feedback might be hard. But I am more than >>> willing >>> >> to >>> >> >> > test anything you can give me, as long as you make the install >>> process >>> >> >> easy >>> >> >> > or give me command props. >>> >> >> >>> >> >> KDE applications are listed at: >>> >> >> http://apps.kde.org >>> >> >> Some will work on Windows and Mac. Applications that might be >>> useful in >>> >> a >>> >> >> university >>> >> >> setting include: >>> >> >> - https://apps.kde.org/labplot/ >>> >> >> - https://apps.kde.org/ktechlab/ >>> >> >> - https://apps.kde.org/accessibilityinspector/ >>> >> >> - https://apps.kde.org/krita/ >>> >> >> - https://apps.kde.org/okular/ >>> >> >> - https://apps.kde.org/kdenlive/ >>> >> >> - https://apps.kde.org/digikam/ >>> >> >> - https://apps.kde.org/glaxnimate/ >>> >> >> >>> >> >> It seems there are faculty members familiar with open source >>> software: >>> >> >> https://pradeeban.github.io/ >>> >> >> >>> >> >> Maybe you could contact them to see if there are ways to also >>> involve >>> >> >> students in >>> >> >> improving software accessibility? Season of KDE ( >>> >> >> https://mentorship.kde.org/sok/) >>> >> >> would be one structured way to do this for KDE software that is >>> useful >>> >> at >>> >> >> UAA. >>> >> >> >>> >> >> Krita, Kdenlive and Glaxnimate may also be useful to people in >>> your art >>> >> >> department: >>> >> >> >>> >> >> >>> >> >>> https://www.uaa.alaska.edu/academics/college-of-arts-and-sciences/depar= tments/art >>> >> >> and to the student clubs in the art department: >>> >> >> >>> >> >> >>> >> >>> https://www.uaa.alaska.edu/academics/college-of-arts-and-sciences/depar= tments/art/clubs/ >>> >> >> >>> >> >> Finally, in terms of testing, is there a KDE application you use >>> and >>> >> would >>> >> >> be willing to help >>> >> >> test? One-off contributions are welcome, but sustained involvemen= t >>> is >>> >> most >>> >> >> helpful. >>> >> >> >>> >> >> > >>> >> >> > On Tue, Jun 3, 2025 at 20:28 Benson Muite < >>> [email protected] >>> >> > >>> >> >> > wrote: >>> >> >> > >>> >> >> >> >>> >> >> >> >>> >> >> >> On Tue, Jun 3, 2025, at 11:15 AM, Bridger Reed-Lewis wrote: >>> >> >> >> > Good evening, I am interested in becoming a tester, and help >>> >> >> collaborate >>> >> >> >> > together on ideas to ensure accessibility in future kde >>> iterations. >>> >> >> Nate, >>> >> >> >> > one of the board members, let me know about your sub-group, >>> and I >>> >> >> >> emailed a >>> >> >> >> > few folks listed as contacts. Just didn't hear back, figurin= g >>> >> reaching >>> >> >> >> out >>> >> >> >> > directly to this email would be more effective. >>> >> >> >> > >>> >> >> >> > Before getting involved though, I should introduce myself. I >>> am the >>> >> >> >> > disability advisor for The University of Anchorage Alaska, a= nd >>> >> while >>> >> >> I am >>> >> >> >> > doing this on my own time. I do hope to get the university >>> involved >>> >> >> since >>> >> >> >> > we have a very active disability, and accessibility work >>> groups at >>> >> >> UAA. >>> >> >> >> > >>> >> >> >> > Recently, the university wrote a article about me which goes >>> in >>> >> detail >>> >> >> >> > about myself you can read about it here... >>> >> >> >> > >>> >> >> >> >>> >> >> >>> >> >>> https://www.uaa.alaska.edu/news/archive/2025/05/chd-disability-advisor-= bridger-r-reed-lewis.cshtml >>> >> >> >> > >>> >> >> >> > >>> >> >> >> > I'm very passionate about what I do, and I believe Steam OS >>> as a >>> >> whole >>> >> >> >> > could be a massive benefit to ensure a better market share, >>> this >>> >> comes >>> >> >> >> with >>> >> >> >> > some challenges though because while steam os is great for >>> gaming, >>> >> >> once >>> >> >> >> > it's released to the masses later this year. >>> >> >> >> > >>> >> >> >> > The OS as a whole will have some disadvantages mainly the >>> lack of >>> >> >> >> > accessibility tools, which as someone with a disability has >>> been >>> >> the >>> >> >> >> > largest reason they haven't moved fully to linux. Ended up o= n >>> Macs >>> >> >> >> because >>> >> >> >> > of how much i hate windows, but once thing apple has about >>> them is >>> >> >> there >>> >> >> >> > gold star for supporting disabilities in there OS. >>> >> >> >> >>> >> >> >> Thanks for your interest. Are there any KDE applications that >>> you use >>> >> >> where >>> >> >> >> support could be better? Do you have any computer labs where >>> linux >>> >> is >>> >> >> used >>> >> >> >> or KDE applications are used? >>> >> >> >> >>> >> >> >> KDE e.V. recently appointed Ritchie Frodomar as accessibility >>> >> engineer: >>> >> >> >> https://mail.kde.org/pipermail/kde-community/2025q2/008193.htm= l >>> >> >> >> >>> >> >> >> > >>> >> >> >> > I also want this in Linux, and I'm here to help along >>> >> >> >> > with assisting with networking with professionals to ensure >>> >> >> >> communications >>> >> >> >> > and collaboration with developers/companies alike. Let me >>> know if >>> >> you >>> >> >> >> have >>> >> >> >> > any questions, and I hope to chat with you soon. >>> >> >> >> > >>> >> >> >> > Sincerely, >>> >> >> >> > >>> >> >> >> > Bridger R. Reed-Lewis >>> >> >> >> > Disability Advisor | Advocate | Speaker >>> >> >> >> > He/Them >>> >> >> >> >>> >> >> >>> >> >>> >> --000000000000e5468a0636b9ea1f Content-Type: text/html; charset="UTF-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <div dir=3D"ltr">Shervin, thank you for sharing this=C2=A0with us. I am now= very very interested in getting a separate=C2=A0computer to try these out.= At the=C2=A0moment, I have a steam deck, but I do have plans to purchase a= used Thinkpad x1 carbon 10th gen. Once I get that, which will be a few wee= ks. Let's chat more about these programs=C2=A0because it seems like thi= ngs have changed since I last really dived into linux. I guess if they'= re available, I'd like to see about working with KDE to develop a stand= ard for prepackaged accessibility tools, even if that's through a third= -party. What=C2=A0do you think?</div><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote gmail_qu= ote_container"><div dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_attr">On Tue, Jun 3, 2025 at= 10:56=E2=80=AFPM Shervin Emami <<a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]= om">[email protected]</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class=3D"gm= ail_quote" style=3D"margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,= 204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div dir=3D"ltr"><div><div>Hi Benson,</div><div>= <br></div><div>For around 8 years now I've been using speech recognitio= n for many hours per day to control KDE desktop, since that is my main way = of working despite having chronic RSI. Since my background is in robotics &= amp; AI, I've tried many different=C2=A0alternative interfaces, and gav= e a talk specifically for Linux (<a href=3D"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v= =3D3aQfwS5pyrg" target=3D"_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3D3aQfwS5= pyrg</a>)</div><div></div><div><br></div><div>If you're mostly interest= ed in dictation, you should consider OpenAI Whisper, because it's possi= bly the most reliable ASR engine at the moment but also importantly it has = very good ASR support for many different languages and dialects and accents= , whereas most ASR is targeted for USA and UK English.</div><div><br></div>= <div>Whisper doesn't have an interface for=C2=A0directly=C2=A0dictating= into applications though. And it's not able to do any=C2=A0commands. I= currently=C2=A0use the open-source Faster-Whisper for dictation (with my o= wn code for typing into applications), and the open-source Kaldi-Active-Gra= mmar=C2=A0+ Dragonfly=C2=A0for typing commands including for programming / = typing things on the terminal or controlling the mouse. (<a href=3D"https:/= /dragonfly.readthedocs.io/en/latest/kaldi_engine.html" target=3D"_blank">ht= tps://dragonfly.readthedocs.io/en/latest/kaldi_engine.html</a>)=C2=A0</div>= <div>It's not a clean solution though, the interaction I've set up = between Kaldi and Whisper is quite hacky. But proves that it is very possib= le!</div><div><br></div><div>Talon ASR (free but closed-source at <a href= =3D"https://talonvoice.com/" target=3D"_blank">https://talonvoice.com/</a>)= has a community that have been slowly working towards better interaction w= ith the desktop by voice, they are making excellent solutions for Windows &= amp; Mac where user interface elements have a standardised API. But they sa= y Linux has been a nightmare to have anything close to a standardised way o= f knowing which UI elements are on the screen. And Wayland pretty much does= n't allow interaction with the screen at all! So unfortunately Talon=C2= =A0has a community of eager developers that want to improve usability of sp= eech recognition on Linux, but they have basically given up on Linux recent= ly due to these 2 issues.</div></div><div><br></div><div><div dir=3D"ltr" c= lass=3D"gmail_signature"><div dir=3D"ltr">Cheers,<br>Shervin Emami.<br><div= ><br></div></div></div></div><br></div><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote"><div = dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_attr">On Wed, 4 Jun 2025 at 16:38, Bridger Reed-= Lewis <<a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]" target=3D"_blank">b= [email protected]</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class=3D"gmai= l_quote" style=3D"margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,20= 4,204);padding-left:1ex"><div dir=3D"auto">K I=E2=80=99m going to get those= setup, should I only do one or all?</div><div><br><div class=3D"gmail_quot= e"><div dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_attr">On Tue, Jun 3, 2025 at 22:23 Benso= n Muite <<a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]" target=3D"_blank"= >[email protected]</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class=3D"gm= ail_quote" style=3D"margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,= 204,204);padding-left:1ex">On Wed, Jun 4, 2025, at 9:09 AM, Bridger Reed-Le= wis wrote:<br> > Thank you, I wasn't aware of those barriers. While I am aware that= the<br> > university has strict rules around applications. I believe there could= be a<br> > way to get around it, if it's used in an educational and<br> > collaborative environment. The person I need to check with about this,= I am<br> > going to send them an email tomorrow since it's pretty late. Oh, a= nd I<br> > tried accessing the IRC and Matrix but the channel isn't accepting= anyone<br> > else, is there a way for me to get around that? I think it'd be a = lot<br> > easier then email<br> <br> <br> <br> For Matrix, accounts on other servers will allow you to access rooms on the= <br> kde matrix server. In addition to <br> <a href=3D"https://matrix.org/docs/chat_basics/matrix-for-im/#creating-a-ma= trix-account" rel=3D"noreferrer" target=3D"_blank">https://matrix.org/docs/= chat_basics/matrix-for-im/#creating-a-matrix-account</a>,<br> you could also make an account on one of the servers listed at:<br> <a href=3D"https://servers.joinmatrix.org/" rel=3D"noreferrer" target=3D"_b= lank">https://servers.joinmatrix.org/</a><br> <br> <a href=3D"https://apps.kde.org/neochat/" rel=3D"noreferrer" target=3D"_bla= nk">https://apps.kde.org/neochat/</a><br> maybe helpful, in addition to other Matrix clients.<br> <br> For irc make an account at <a href=3D"http://libera.chat" rel=3D"noreferrer= " target=3D"_blank">http://libera.chat</a><br> <a href=3D"https://apps.kde.org/konversation/" rel=3D"noreferrer" target=3D= "_blank">https://apps.kde.org/konversation/</a><br> maybe helpful, though there are many other choices for IRC clients.<br> <br> ><br> > On Tue, Jun 3, 2025 at 10:03=E2=80=AFPM Benson Muite <<a href=3D"ma= ilto:[email protected]" target=3D"_blank">[email protected]= rg</a>><br> > wrote:<br> ><br> >><br> >><br> >> On Wed, Jun 4, 2025, at 8:49 AM, Bridger Reed-Lewis wrote:<br> >> > Well I don=E2=80=99t think it would be useful particularly fo= r UAA, it=E2=80=99s just I<br> >> > feel a collaboration could be set up depending on the person.= And with<br> >> > everything going on federally, a lot of folks at my work are = pretty mad,<br> >> > it=E2=80=99s the reason why I got my article. What I=E2=80=99= m going to do is reach out<br> >> to<br> >> > the engineers/tech departments, to see if anyone is intereste= d in working<br> >> > on this project. Along with connecting with student clubs, I = am also<br> >> going<br> >> > to install and test what I can with the applications you sent= .<br> >><br> >> Thanks.<br> >><br> >> ><br> >> > Oh, about the mentoring program you mentioned. I don't th= ink it's a good<br> >> > fit for me since I have dyscalculia. I've tried with no l= uck to learn<br> >> > coding. It's just not my thing, what it would be testing = along with<br> >> setting<br> >> > up times to chat around ideas, along with networking which i = am scary<br> >> good<br> >> > at.<br> >><br> >> We do use mailing lists, apps also have chat channels, typically o= n Matrix<br> >> or IRC.<br> >> For Season of KDE, making students and people new to open source a= ware of<br> >> it<br> >> would be helpful.=C2=A0 It provides a structured way for people to= contribute<br> >> improvements<br> >> to software that they use, these need not be limited to coding<br> >> contributions.<br> >><br> >> In the US, many applications require accessibility testing reports= before<br> >> they can be<br> >> used in an institution.=C2=A0 This can be a barrier to adopting op= en source<br> >> software since<br> >> the administrative burden of procuring software which has accessib= ility<br> >> testing done<br> >> is low compared to getting open source software and improving it t= o meet<br> >> accessibility<br> >> standards for which the financial cost would likely be ultimately = lower,<br> >> thereby allowing<br> >> institutions to make more effective use of their limited funds.<br= > >><br> >> ><br> >> ><br> >> ><br> >> > On Tue, Jun 3, 2025 at 21:37 Benson Muite <<a href=3D"mail= to:[email protected]" target=3D"_blank">[email protected]= </a>><br> >> > wrote:<br> >> ><br> >> >><br> >> >><br> >> >> On Wed, Jun 4, 2025, at 7:58 AM, Bridger Reed-Lewis wrote= :<br> >> >> > I have heard of him, and it=E2=80=99s one of the rea= sons why I want to get<br> >> >> > involved, at the moment I don=E2=80=99t think the un= iversity allows Linux to<br> >> be<br> >> >> > used, but I could be wrong. At the moment, I am runn= ing KDE on my<br> >> Steam<br> >> >> > Deck. But I=E2=80=99m planning on purchasing a think= -pad x1 carbon Gen 10<br> >> soon.<br> >> >> One<br> >> >> > area I=E2=80=99d like to see get added is dictation.= There's an abandoned<br> >> project<br> >> >> > here --> <a href=3D"https://github.com/abb128/Liv= eCaptions" rel=3D"noreferrer" target=3D"_blank">https://github.com/abb128/L= iveCaptions</a> that could be forked<br> >> >> into a<br> >> >> > simple dictation tool, it's surprisingly, very a= ccurate.<br> >> >><br> >> >> This seems to build on another library which maybe worth = incorporating<br> >> into<br> >> >> KDE applications:<br> >> >> <a href=3D"https://github.com/abb128/april-asr" rel=3D"no= referrer" target=3D"_blank">https://github.com/abb128/april-asr</a><br> >> >><br> >> >> There are ongoing discussions withing KDE about using too= ls trained on<br> >> >> data of unknown origin.<br> >> >><br> >> >> ><br> >> >> > Outside of that, I would need to look because right = now there's not a<br> >> >> lot,<br> >> >> > and disability itself is a spectrum. without seeing = what you are<br> >> already<br> >> >> > working on, giving feedback might be hard. But I am = more than willing<br> >> to<br> >> >> > test anything you can give me, as long as you make t= he install process<br> >> >> easy<br> >> >> > or give me command props.<br> >> >><br> >> >> KDE applications are listed at:<br> >> >> <a href=3D"http://apps.kde.org" rel=3D"noreferrer" target= =3D"_blank">http://apps.kde.org</a><br> >> >> Some will work on Windows and Mac. Applications that migh= t be useful in<br> >> a<br> >> >> university<br> >> >> setting include:<br> >> >> - <a href=3D"https://apps.kde.org/labplot/" rel=3D"norefe= rrer" target=3D"_blank">https://apps.kde.org/labplot/</a><br> >> >> - <a href=3D"https://apps.kde.org/ktechlab/" rel=3D"noref= errer" target=3D"_blank">https://apps.kde.org/ktechlab/</a><br> >> >> - <a href=3D"https://apps.kde.org/accessibilityinspector/= " rel=3D"noreferrer" target=3D"_blank">https://apps.kde.org/accessibilityin= spector/</a><br> >> >> - <a href=3D"https://apps.kde.org/krita/" rel=3D"noreferr= er" target=3D"_blank">https://apps.kde.org/krita/</a><br> >> >> - <a href=3D"https://apps.kde.org/okular/" rel=3D"norefer= rer" target=3D"_blank">https://apps.kde.org/okular/</a><br> >> >> - <a href=3D"https://apps.kde.org/kdenlive/" rel=3D"noref= errer" target=3D"_blank">https://apps.kde.org/kdenlive/</a><br> >> >> - <a href=3D"https://apps.kde.org/digikam/" rel=3D"norefe= rrer" target=3D"_blank">https://apps.kde.org/digikam/</a><br> >> >> - <a href=3D"https://apps.kde.org/glaxnimate/" rel=3D"nor= eferrer" target=3D"_blank">https://apps.kde.org/glaxnimate/</a><br> >> >><br> >> >> It seems there are faculty members familiar with open sou= rce software:<br> >> >> <a href=3D"https://pradeeban.github.io/" rel=3D"noreferre= r" target=3D"_blank">https://pradeeban.github.io/</a><br> >> >><br> >> >> Maybe you could contact them to see if there are ways to = also involve<br> >> >> students in<br> >> >> improving software accessibility?=C2=A0 Season of KDE (<b= r> >> >> <a href=3D"https://mentorship.kde.org/sok/" rel=3D"norefe= rrer" target=3D"_blank">https://mentorship.kde.org/sok/</a>)<br> >> >> would be one structured way to do this for KDE software t= hat is useful<br> >> at<br> >> >> UAA.<br> >> >><br> >> >> Krita, Kdenlive and Glaxnimate may also be useful to peop= le in your art<br> >> >> department:<br> >> >><br> >> >><br> >> <a href=3D"https://www.uaa.alaska.edu/academics/college-of-arts-an= d-sciences/departments/art" rel=3D"noreferrer" target=3D"_blank">https://ww= w.uaa.alaska.edu/academics/college-of-arts-and-sciences/departments/art</a>= <br> >> >> and to the student clubs in the art department:<br> >> >><br> >> >><br> >> <a href=3D"https://www.uaa.alaska.edu/academics/college-of-arts-an= d-sciences/departments/art/clubs/" rel=3D"noreferrer" target=3D"_blank">htt= ps://www.uaa.alaska.edu/academics/college-of-arts-and-sciences/departments/= art/clubs/</a><br> >> >><br> >> >> Finally, in terms of testing, is there a KDE application = you use and<br> >> would<br> >> >> be willing to help<br> >> >> test? One-off contributions are welcome, but sustained in= volvement is<br> >> most<br> >> >> helpful.<br> >> >><br> >> >> ><br> >> >> > On Tue, Jun 3, 2025 at 20:28 Benson Muite <<a hre= f=3D"mailto:[email protected]" target=3D"_blank">benson_muite@emai= lplus.org</a><br> >> ><br> >> >> > wrote:<br> >> >> ><br> >> >> >><br> >> >> >><br> >> >> >> On Tue, Jun 3, 2025, at 11:15 AM, Bridger Reed-L= ewis wrote:<br> >> >> >> > Good evening, I am interested in becoming a= tester, and help<br> >> >> collaborate<br> >> >> >> > together on ideas to ensure accessibility i= n future kde iterations.<br> >> >> Nate,<br> >> >> >> > one of the board members, let me know about= your sub-group, and I<br> >> >> >> emailed a<br> >> >> >> > few folks listed as contacts. Just didn'= ;t hear back, figuring<br> >> reaching<br> >> >> >> out<br> >> >> >> > directly to this email would be more effect= ive.<br> >> >> >> ><br> >> >> >> > Before getting involved though, I should in= troduce myself. I am the<br> >> >> >> > disability advisor for The University of An= chorage Alaska, and<br> >> while<br> >> >> I am<br> >> >> >> > doing this on my own time. I do hope to get= the university involved<br> >> >> since<br> >> >> >> > we have a very active disability, and acces= sibility work groups at<br> >> >> UAA.<br> >> >> >> ><br> >> >> >> > Recently, the university wrote a article ab= out me which goes in<br> >> detail<br> >> >> >> > about myself you can read about it here...<= br> >> >> >> ><br> >> >> >><br> >> >><br> >> <a href=3D"https://www.uaa.alaska.edu/news/archive/2025/05/chd-dis= ability-advisor-bridger-r-reed-lewis.cshtml" rel=3D"noreferrer" target=3D"_= blank">https://www.uaa.alaska.edu/news/archive/2025/05/chd-disability-advis= or-bridger-r-reed-lewis.cshtml</a><br> >> >> >> ><br> >> >> >> ><br> >> >> >> > I'm very passionate about what I do, an= d I believe Steam OS as a<br> >> whole<br> >> >> >> > could be a massive benefit to ensure a bett= er market share, this<br> >> comes<br> >> >> >> with<br> >> >> >> > some challenges though because while steam = os is great for gaming,<br> >> >> once<br> >> >> >> > it's released to the masses later this = year.<br> >> >> >> ><br> >> >> >> > The OS as a whole will have some disadvanta= ges mainly the lack of<br> >> >> >> > accessibility tools, which as someone with = a disability has been<br> >> the<br> >> >> >> > largest reason they haven't moved fully= to linux. Ended up on Macs<br> >> >> >> because<br> >> >> >> > of how much i hate windows, but once thing = apple has about them is<br> >> >> there<br> >> >> >> > gold star for supporting disabilities in th= ere OS.<br> >> >> >><br> >> >> >> Thanks for your interest. Are there any KDE appl= ications that you use<br> >> >> where<br> >> >> >> support could be better?=C2=A0 Do you have any c= omputer labs where linux<br> >> is<br> >> >> used<br> >> >> >> or KDE applications are used?<br> >> >> >><br> >> >> >> KDE e.V. recently appointed Ritchie Frodomar as = accessibility<br> >> engineer:<br> >> >> >> <a href=3D"https://mail.kde.org/pipermail/kde-co= mmunity/2025q2/008193.html" rel=3D"noreferrer" target=3D"_blank">https://ma= il.kde.org/pipermail/kde-community/2025q2/008193.html</a><br> >> >> >><br> >> >> >> ><br> >> >> >> > I also want this in Linux, and I'm here= to help along<br> >> >> >> > with assisting with networking with profess= ionals to ensure<br> >> >> >> communications<br> >> >> >> > and collaboration with developers/companies= alike. Let me know if<br> >> you<br> >> >> >> have<br> >> >> >> > any questions, and I hope to chat with you = soon.<br> >> >> >> ><br> >> >> >> > Sincerely,<br> >> >> >> ><br> >> >> >> > Bridger R. Reed-Lewis<br> >> >> >> > Disability Advisor | Advocate | Speaker<br> >> >> >> > He/Them<br> >> >> >><br> >> >><br> >><br> </blockquote></div></div> </blockquote></div> </blockquote></div> --000000000000e5468a0636b9ea1f--