Getting Involved

[Bridger Reed-Lewis]

Oh, I guess this is a question for the both of you. I prefer Arch
linux with KDE, what's your opinion on that, are there any disadvantages? I
know they get updates a little less often, I just know packages and
applications can be installed manually if needed.

On Tue, Jun 3, 2025 at 11:26 PM Bridger Reed-Lewis <
bridgerreedlewis at gmail.com> wrote:

> 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 PM Shervin Emami <shervin.emami at 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=3aQfwS5pyrg)
>>
>> 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
>> applications 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
>> into 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 the
>> 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 <
>> bridgerreedlewis at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> K I’m going to get those setup, should I only do one or all?
>>>
>>> On Tue, Jun 3, 2025 at 22:23 Benson Muite <benson_muite at emailplus.org>
>>> 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 the
>>>> > university has strict rules around applications. I believe there
>>>> could 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-account
>>>> ,
>>>> 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 PM Benson Muite <
>>>> benson_muite at emailplus.org>
>>>> > wrote:
>>>> >
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> On Wed, Jun 4, 2025, at 8:49 AM, Bridger Reed-Lewis wrote:
>>>> >> > Well I don’t think it would be useful particularly for UAA, it’s
>>>> 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
>>>> pretty mad,
>>>> >> > it’s the reason why I got my article. What I’m going 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
>>>> also
>>>> >> 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 with
>>>> >> 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
>>>> source
>>>> >> 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 <
>>>> benson_muite at emailplus.org>
>>>> >> > wrote:
>>>> >> >
>>>> >> >>
>>>> >> >>
>>>> >> >> On Wed, Jun 4, 2025, at 7:58 AM, Bridger Reed-Lewis wrote:
>>>> >> >> > I have heard of him, and it’s one of the reasons why I want to
>>>> get
>>>> >> >> > involved, at the moment I don’t think the university allows
>>>> Linux to
>>>> >> be
>>>> >> >> > used, but I could be wrong. At the moment, I am running KDE on
>>>> my
>>>> >> Steam
>>>> >> >> > Deck. But I’m planning on purchasing a think-pad x1 carbon Gen
>>>> 10
>>>> >> soon.
>>>> >> >> One
>>>> >> >> > area I’d 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 are
>>>> >> 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/departments/art
>>>> >> >> and to the student clubs in the art department:
>>>> >> >>
>>>> >> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> https://www.uaa.alaska.edu/academics/college-of-arts-and-sciences/departments/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
>>>> involvement is
>>>> >> most
>>>> >> >> helpful.
>>>> >> >>
>>>> >> >> >
>>>> >> >> > On Tue, Jun 3, 2025 at 20:28 Benson Muite <
>>>> benson_muite at emailplus.org
>>>> >> >
>>>> >> >> > 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, figuring
>>>> >> 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,
>>>> and
>>>> >> 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
>>>> on 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.html
>>>> >> >> >>
>>>> >> >> >> >
>>>> >> >> >> > 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
>>>> >> >> >>
>>>> >> >>
>>>> >>
>>>>
>>>
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