Linux Screen Reader Explained

Linux Screen Reader (LSR)
Released: [1]
Discontinued:yes
Latest Release Version:0.5.3
Programming Language:Python
Operating System:Unix-like
Genre:Screen reader Accessibility
License:New BSD License

The Linux Screen Reader (LSR) is a discontinued free and open source effort to develop an extensible assistive technology for the GNOME desktop environment. The goal of the project was to create a reusable development platform for building alternative and supplemental user interfaces in support of people with diverse disabilities.[2]

The original use of the LSR platform was to give people with visual impairments access to the GNOME desktop and its business applications (e.g. Firefox, OpenOffice, Eclipse) using speech, Braille, and screen magnification. The extensions packaged with the LSR core were intended to meet this end.

LSR was an alternative to Orca, but there were a number of non-competitive reasons for having two extensible assistive technologies for the GNOME desktop.

Linux Screen Reader (LSR) was started in 2006 by IBM. Initially, LSR was released with the Common Public License but on November 29, 2006, the version 0.3.2 was switched to the New BSD License.[4] It was discontinued in 2007 when IBM focused their resources in other projects.[5]

Maintainers list

The maintainers managed the development process with the help of many other members of the GNOME community:[6]

Other developers who made great contributions to the project were Pete Brunet, Eirikur Hallgrimsson, Scott Haeger, Eitan Isaacson, Andy Shi, Critóbal Palmer and Joel Feiner.[7]

Notes and References

  1. News: Initial commit . 18 August 2013.
  2. News: LSR wiki page . 16 August 2013 . dead . https://archive.today/20130817165559/https://wiki.gnome.org/LSR . 17 August 2013 .
  3. News: LSR Frequently Asked Questions . 16 August 2013 .
  4. News: LSR 0.3.2 - BSD Licensed! . 16 August 2013.
  5. News: Status of IBM a11y . 16 August 2013.
  6. News: LSR Maintainers list . 16 August 2013.
  7. News: LSR Authors list . 16 August 2013.