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ZipSpeak: an easy-to-use talking Linux distribution
(Last updated: Mar. 21, 2000)

ZipSpeak is a talking mini-distribution of Linux for blind and visually impaired people, based on the ZipSlack distribution and the Speakup screen reader. ZipSpeak is designed to be easily installed on an existing MS-DOS or Windows system, so that the user can start using a talking Linux system with little difficulty and without help froms omeone who can see.

What's New

ZipSpeak 7.1-1 features ZipSlack version 7.1 and Speakup version 0.09a. Speakup version 0.09 introduces new drivers for several speech synthesizers, including the Apollo 2, the Braille and Speak, and the DECtalk Express. ZipSpeak 7.1-1 includes a new utility called speakupconfig which simplifies the customization of Speakup. It also includes a modified configuration for the Lynx Web browser which makes it easier for blind people to use. Finally, ZipSpeak now supports many keyboard layouts besides the U.S. layout, greatly improving its usability for international users.

What You Need to Use ZipSpeak

You need a PC with an Intel 80386 processor or better, with at least four megabytes of RAM, though more RAM is certainly recommended. ZipSpeak requires at least 100 megabytes of hard disk space, though more is recommended. You also need a system running MS-DOS or any version of Windows, except Windows NT with the NTFS file system.

Supported Speech Synthesizers

You must have one of the following speech synthesizers to use ZipSpeak; you can't use it with only a sound card.
    Accent PC
    Accent SA
    Apollo 2
    Audapter
    Braille and Speak
    DECtalk Express
    DECtalk External (older)
    DoubleTalk LT or LiteTalk
    DoubleTalk PC
    Speakout
    Transport
Getting ZipSpeak

The standard version of ZipSpeak, which includes kernel images for all supported synthesizers, is available by FTP. A customized version, specially built for any supported synthesizer, is available on request from me.

For Further Information

ZipSpeak is based on ZipSlack, which is a simplified version of the Slackware Linux distribution, created and maintained by Patrick Volkerding. To learn more about Slackware, go to the Slackware website.

ZipSpeak uses the Speakup screen reader, written by Kirk Reiser and Andy Berdan, to make Linux speak. Speakup is built into the Linux kernel so that everything on the console from startup to shutdown is spoken. Speakup will be especially familiar to people who use or have used the Automatic Screen Access Program (ASAP) from MicroTalk under MS-DOS. To learn more about Speakup, go to the Speakup website.

Finally, new blind users of Linux can join the blinux-newbie mailing list to ask questions and discuss any issues related to Linux use by blind people. More experienced Linux users are also welcome to join and help. To join, send a blank message to:
blinux-newbie-subscribe@egroups.com

Final Comments

Feel free to email me with any questions or comments you have about ZipSpeak. Thanks to Mark Senk for showing me the need for this distribution and providing feedback along the way, and to the creators of Slackware and Speakup for making ZipSpeak possible.

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