Orca
Free, open-source screen reader for GNOME on Linux.
Open the official app on help.gnome.org
This tool is hosted by its maintainers. Click below to open help.gnome.org in a new tab — it's their official demo.
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Use it free
Open the official tool or demo — no account needed.
Self-host it
Run the open-source version on your own infrastructure.
What is Orca?
Orca is an open-source screen reader designed for Linux-based operating systems. It enables visually impaired users to interact with graphical user interfaces by converting visual elements into audio feedback. Developed under the LGPL-2.1 license, Orca is primarily used by individuals with visual impairments who require accessibility tools for daily computing tasks. The tool addresses the challenge of navigating complex graphical interfaces by providing auditory descriptions of on-screen content, allowing users to perform tasks such as reading documents, filling out forms, and interacting with web pages without visual assistance. Orca integrates with desktop environments like GNOME, offering a experience for users who rely on assistive technologies. Its modular design allows for customization through profiles and keybindings, making it adaptable to various user needs and preferences. Orca's primary function is to serve as an accessibility tool that enhances the usability of Linux systems for visually impaired users. It supports a wide range of applications, including web browsers, document editors, and form interfaces, by providing real-time auditory feedback. The tool's ability to handle dynamic content, such as live regions on websites, ensures that users can access up-to-date information without visual constraints. Orca's integration with GNOME and other desktop environments allows it to leverage existing accessibility frameworks, ensuring compatibility with standard accessibility protocols. This makes it a valuable resource for users who need to navigate complex software environments while maintaining independence in their computing tasks.
How it works
Orca is an open-source screen reader developed for Linux systems, specifically designed to assist visually impaired users in interacting with graphical user interfaces. It provides auditory feedback for on-screen elements, enabling users to navigate and manipulate software without visual input. Orca's primary purpose is to enhance accessibility by converting visual information into audio cues. This allows users to perform tasks such as reading text, navigating menus, and interacting with web content through sound, making computing more inclusive for individuals with visual impairments.
How to use it
- 1Use the Orca tool to complete your task.
- 2Use the Orca tool to complete your task.
- 3Use the Orca tool to complete your task.
- 4Use the Orca tool to complete your task.
What it can do
- screen reader linux
Use cases
Assumptions and limitations
Assumptions
- source: https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/orca
- license: LGPL-2.1 — free to use
- privacy: Self-hosted — you control your data
Limitations
- Self-hosted — requires setup, maintenance, and your own infrastructure.
- Relies on an external source (gitlab.gnome.org); availability depends on that service.
- Focused on the accessibility tools category: Free, open-source screen reader for GNOME on Linux..
Understanding the result
Free, open-source screen reader for GNOME on Linux.
Tool details
- Clearly flagged when a network request is needed.
- No account, no sign-up, and no tracking of your content.
- Powered by (MIT).
- Built with
- (https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/orca)
- License
- MIT
- Runs locally
- No — requires a network request
- Verification
- Not yet verified
- Input
- Query
- Output
- Text
Built with https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/orca. OpenToolVault provides the discovery and browser interface while crediting the original project maintainers.
- Built with
- License
- MIT
Open-source project
OpenToolVault is an independent directory. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by this project.
References
- / — GitHub Repository
Upstream project · GitHub
- LGPL-2.1 License
Upstream project