Hi @FBClark ,
That is a lovely story.
I admire your patient efforts to do that recovery
It may have been easier if there had been a backup
I wonder if the old Vinux could be recovered?
Regards
Neville
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Oh, Susan learned several things that day, one being to backup - backup - backup regularly! I just did a search and the old Vinux sites are still āupā but havenāt been updated since around 2017 and there are no evident downloads available there. It can still be downloaded from sourceforge.net though itās obviously old. If someone could get into the construction they might be able to decipher and reconstruct the scripts the devs used to modify Gnome back then and make their ISO. Gnome has gone through its own changes so those scripts would need to be updated. That would be quite a chore if it could be done. Their ISO started up speaking on boot so even the blind could manage the installation or use it as a live load. It had augmented visual effects, large font, large icons and large cursors for low vision users and as with all desktop Linux builds the Braille device drivers are already kernel modules. It also had a screen magnifier ready for use. All they would need is someone sighted to deal with the BIOS/UEFI settings for them.
I lost track of the devs over the years but I know one of them is now in Australia. His last name is White and Iāll be dipped if I can recall his first name. All of the devs were vision impaired except for the originator who is/was a lecturer in the UK.
It would be so great if Vinux could be resurrected and set up in say, Debian with the Gnome DE. It could hopefully live a long and happy life!
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That certainly would be a worthwhile project.
Lets see if we can find someone interestedā¦ 2017 is not all that old.
I presume the source code of the modifications is all scripts, so it would come with a download.? If not where is it?
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The devs used scripts which logically would be stored where the devs could access, update and share them, but I donāt know where. I followed a search to Vinux - Wikipedia where I found the name of the originator, Tony Sales. He dropped out of the project midway through over personal reasons, but if he can be contacted he might be able to either answer all questions or give contact permission and info for the latter devs. Iām sure he might like to see his project taken on.
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Thanks for sharing that story.
Quite often we forget our handicapped friends, although I have a few wheelchaired clients and deaf no visually impaired so not used a screen reader on linux or windows for over 40 years.
Hope someone picks up on the idea.
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Thanks Paul,
I think I will restart this as a separate topic.
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Great idea, a section on how we can help handicapped users tool available etc. Hope to learn something from that
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