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Need OS for very vision impaired person

Posted: Sat Jul 10, 2021 3:24 am
by wove
Several years ago I set up an HP Slate 21 Pro, for my mother-in-law and it has gone on the fritz. I have no idea why HP made such a machine. It is essentially a 21" Android Tablet, and while blowing up a phone interface to 21" seems just odd, it works well for a person blind in one eye and glaucoma in the other. It is old hardware, running or rather did run Android Jelly Bean and I need to replace it for it just freezes up after a couple hours use and can only be recovered with a factory reset.

The HP is no longer available and I was unable to find anything new that is similar. So I picked up Lenovo Idea Center C460, which is a touch screen all in one. I would like to find an OS to install that could also be used via touch, and provide large interface elements. I have been looking at Endless OS, which has similar large touch friendly icons, but have also wondering about Fyde OS a Chrome OS clone, which would actually run the Android Apps she is use to using, but I am not aware of what it might have to aide those with visual impairment.

This could well end up being a dry run for myself and if anyone has any suggestions please chime in.

Re: Need OS for very vision impaired person

Posted: Sun Jul 11, 2021 12:42 am
by crosscourt
Take a look at this and see what you think, www.debugpoint.com/2021/05/accessible-c ... -impaired/
Its based on Ubuntu Mate 20.04 which also has very good features for the visually impaired.

Re: Need OS for very vision impaired person

Posted: Tue Jul 13, 2021 1:38 am
by wove
Well the Lenovo c460 arrived this morning. It runs Windows fine, but I have had no luck getting Linux installed. Everything I have tried starts just fine, runs until a spash screen image shows up. Some make a startup sound, but nothing gets to a desktop. I get a cursor that moves fine (even via touch). But they just set there and move no further.

I am actually very surprised, generally Lenovo just runs Linux as well as it runs anything. I am assuming it must be some graphics driver thing, but it is Intel Integrated Graphics, which I have never seen Linux have trouble with. If anyone has any ideas, please chime in.

Re: Need OS for very vision impaired person

Posted: Tue Jul 13, 2021 2:15 am
by tlmiller
What's the CPU/iGP combo on it, and what OS's ahve you tried exactly?

Re: Need OS for very vision impaired person

Posted: Tue Jul 13, 2021 3:52 am
by wove
The CPU is a Pentium G3220T. All I can find on graphics is that it is Intel HD Graphics. I checked the Windows Device Manage and the Intel HD Graphics Control Panel and both simply say Intel HD Graphics.

I need an OS that always falls back to a home screen with big launcher button. I need something where the user can get themselves into trouble. My first choice has been Endless OS, a mostly kids and education focused. It is built on OSTree and immutable system, so even if you are an administrator. I have installed this on a dozen computer. According to their web site it should install on any computer built after 2007, and I have installed it many very odd ball machines. I tried Fyde OS. It is a Chrome OS clone, and runs Android Apps, which she is familiar.

Zorin OS booted to a live desktop after a few tries. I assume that would mean that Ubuntu variants should boot the same, but I do not see them as suitable for the use intended. The distro cc noted is Ubuntu based, but is appears to be geared toward people good in Linux who just have vision problems.

I would like to try Fedora's SilverBlue, which is an immutable OS, but most iso downloads for me are about an hour and block all other uses of the internet. Windows 10 in Tablet Mode is actually decent. This has a 22" screen (1920X1080) and with scaling set to 150% it seems suitable. I would need to sort out how to lock it down tight and if possible have an auto login. (Her affairs are all managed by a trustee, so while a hacker could perhaps turn the machine into a botnet, there is really no danger of stealing useful personal info.)

Re: Need OS for very vision impaired person

Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2021 2:04 am
by wove
The saga has ended. I had to take the computer over today. I settled on Windows 10 and while it ends up being a decent tablet, with good size and contrast for vision deficiencies. My big concern is that I was never able to figure out a way to lock it so the user can not get themselves into trouble.

Deepin Linux started and installed and I was really impressed with it. It was excellent to work with a touch screen, although not very good at working with visual impairments. I installed from an older iso and it updated itself to the latest and I was pleased to see that several of their home brew applications gained better usability and additional functionality.