orca/gnome-mag fails miserably as a screen magnifier in ubuntu

[Rüdiger Kupper]

Ubuntu Oneiric, either Unity or Unity-2d:

Trying to find a decent screen magnifier (note: there is none), I came accross the tool claiming to be Ubuntu's default magnifier: orca.

BEHAVIOUR:

1. Enabling "Zoom" in Ubuntus "Universal Access" system dialog does: nothing.
2. typing "orca --enable=magnifier" in a terminal (as documented in the man page) does: nothing.
3. Installing package gnome-mag and typing "magnifier" in a terminal does: nothing.
4. Installing package gnome-mag and typing "magnifier --vertical/horizontal" leaves screen completely unusable

Bottom line: orca and gnome-mag shall provide universal acces, but not even me as a fully capable human being can get them to work. How shall a visually impaired person ever get them to work?

EXPECTED BEHAVIOUR:

I can activate a working screen magnifier with at most three simple clicks.

BOTTOM LINE:

Ubuntu claims to be software for human beings. Gnome has usability guidelines. Both is not met in Oneiric.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 11.10
Package: gnome-orca 3.2.1-0ubuntu1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.0.0-16.29-generic 3.0.20
Uname: Linux 3.0.0-16-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
ApportVersion: 1.23-0ubuntu4
Architecture: amd64
Date: Sat Mar 24 18:07:29 2012
EcryptfsInUse: Yes
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 11.04 "Natty Narwhal" - Release amd64 (20110427.1)
PackageArchitecture: all
SourcePackage: gnome-orca
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to oneiric on 2011-10-14 (161 days ago)