Matt: ubuntu-desktop metapackage request

[Henrik Nilsen Omma]

Matt Zimmerman wrote:
> On Sun, May 21, 2006 at 01:22:04PM -0600, Joey Stanford wrote:
>   
>> I would like to voice a request to have brltty removed from the
>> ubuntu-desktop, kubuntu-desktop, edubuntu-desktop metapackages please. 
>> It's needed for a relatively small number of users (even those with
>> visual impairments use magnification utilities most of the time rather
>> than a Braille reader).
>>     
>
> The accessibility team felt that it was appropriate to include this tool.
> Please discuss it with them before requesting such a change.
>   
It is true that the brltty package is only used by a small group of 
people, but to that group it is extremely important. A typical desktop 
app like Gaim will have many more users, but it has less of an impact on 
those users if it is missing because it can be installed.

The key point is that certain user groups *cannot use their computer at 
all* if the assistive technologies they need are not installed. Not 
being able to use the computer means not being able to install those 
things either, a catch 22.

There are not many disabled users on Linux ATM, in part because the 
accessibility has so far been poor. This is what we are trying to change 
by adding these applications. We are (hopefully) moving towards a more 
inclusive society in general and Ubuntu wants to be in the forefront of 
that. You might want to read this: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Accessibility

It is true that many visually impaired users use speech output (in part 
because braille devices are very expensive -- a separate problem). 
However, many find braille more useful because they work in an office 
with other people or because their hearing is poor as well (!).
>   
>> We might consider creating an ubunut-accessibility metapackage (just as
>> KDE and Gnome have done) that would put things like this in it.
>>     
>   
There are different ways to organise the tools in terms of packaging, 
but I would not support removing this functionality from the default 
install for the reasons given above.

- Henrik