The Jupiter Speech System For Linux

Features unique to this package include: reading the accumulated log of your interactive session (as well as screen review mode), audio feedback as text is displayed on the screen, Customizable speech commands (not just key bindings), a modular interface between the kernel and the speech package, and escape sequences that allow applications to speak for themselves.  The "guide.html" file below contains the complete user's guide.

• guide.html: user's guide, technical documentation.
• jupiter.tar.gz: the source, tar compressed.
• Other applications, such as browsers and mail clients, that are easier for blind people to use.
• Alternative keyboards for the one-handed typist.

Installation of the Jupiter speech package proceeds in two steps.  First the Linux kernel is patched, so that it can accept adaptive modules.  These modules intercept keyboard input and console output and modify it in some way, to make the computer more accessible.  For instance, an adapter for the blind might divert console output into a speech synthesizer.  Jupiter is such an adapter.  This package includes the patch that "prepares" the Linux kernel for adaptive modules, and the Jupiter module itself, which you load via insmod or modprobe.

Note that you only need patch the kernel once.  If you have already done so, you can download the latest jupiter module and install it directly into your system.  If you haven't patched your kernel, download the package and follow the instructions in the user's guide.

If we're lucky, and persistent, the kernel patch will eventually be incorporated into standard Linux.  On that happy day, you, the end user, won't have to mess with the kernel at all.  You can simply grab your favorite adapter, perhaps Jupiter or perhaps something else off the internet, and install it using insmod or modprobe.  We're not there yet, but I'm working on it.  Meantime, you really do have to recompile the kernel.

If you want to give Jupiter a try without becoming an expert in linux internals, or if you want a talking rescue cd on hand (always a good idea), download and uncompress the iso image, write it to a CD, boot from that CD, and you have a talking instance of Linux, ready to access the files on your computer, or the web sites on the internet.  This is only 20MB to download, and 50MB uncompressed.  It fits nicely on a mini-cd, which you can carry around in your pocket or wallet.  This README file, which appears under /usr/doc on the CD rom, provides valuable documentation.  Download the zip compressed iso image here.  Md5sum = 8a197d1e930c9be7a7f41b8750cdebdf.

If you need instructions for burning an iso image, from either Linux or Windows, click here.