Vinux is an open source and completely free operating system derived from the world’s most popular distribution of Linux, Ubuntu, built around the Unity desktop environment and tailored for blind and visually impaired people.
Available for download as Live CD/DVDs
The Vinux project is available for download as two Live CD ISO images, as well as two Live DVD ISO images, designed to support both 32-bit (i386) and 64-bit (x86_64) hardware platforms.
Boot options
Being based on Ubuntu, both the Live CD and Live DVD versions come with the same boot screen the one used on the main Ubuntu OS, designed to allow the user to choose a language from the get-go.
From the boot screen, it is possible to try the operating system without installing it, start the installer directly, check the disk for defects, run a memory test, as well as to boot an existing OS from the first drive.
Unity is used as the main graphical desktop environment
While Unity is used as the main graphical desktop environment on Vinux, it uses the Orca screen reader and magnifier tool as the main accessibility software for blind and visually impaired users.
Default applications
Default applications include the Audacious audio player, Brasero CD/DVD burning software, Mozilla Firefox web browser, Gedit text editor, Pidgin multi-protocol instant messenger, Transmission torrent downloader, Mozilla Thunderbird email and news reader, Simple Scan image scanner software, Mangler VoIP client and Deja Dup backup tool.
Bottom line
In conclusion, Vinux is a really great project that will try to help blind and visually impaired users to manage their way through a quite perfect clone of the Ubuntu Linux operating system.
Keep in mind though, that is uses the Unity desktop environment, which requires a modern computer. Also, in order to use the operating system, you must first burn it onto CD or DVD discs, as well as to write it on USB flash drives, and then boot it from the BIOS of a PC.
