Comment 51 for bug 63352

My semi-blind coworker had a point the other day. She wanted to install Ubuntu and after installing it she found out that sound did not work -- in the end it was because of this issue and the X-Fi sound card.

I still can not believe that after about 1.5 - 2 years this issue is not corrected. She has a blog post about Ubuntu coming out on Monday, I am surprised this one bug has not received more bad press from the accessibility stand-point. It looks like Creative released the drivers over 8+ months ago and still nothing. The X-fi card is Creative's top-line card and is recommended to people with disabilities.

She, and I, were very dismayed that Ubuntu and the Linux kernel team has not put this issue as a higher priority simply for the sake of accessibility alone. I, for one, am with her on this. After checking around with some accessibility folks (mostly, analysts at Forrester...) on this, this was actually appalling to them. Specially this bug's long lasting history (not just here, but at ALSA as well...), and the "priority" of it in the community. They said it would be a show-stopper for many people trying to install and use Linux compared to Windows (or any operating system) for people with a vision impairment that rely on software to be their vision.

I hope this sheds some light on how serious this issue should be taken from an accessibility stand-point and not just treated as "oh, some gamers lost their top-of-the-line sound cards."

Again if there is anything I can do for this issue - please let me know. Also, if there is anything the various communities out there who *need* support for this card can do, please let me know.