Bidirectional communication between Orca (Linux) and NVDA (Windows) screen readers using the NVDA Remote protocol
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Orca-Remote

Orca-Remote lets Orca on Linux and NVDA on Windows work together over the NVDA Remote protocol.

You can send speech, braille, clipboard, tones, and control input between both machines.

What it does

  • Forward speech between Orca and NVDA
  • Control NVDA from Orca, or Orca from NVDA
  • Share clipboard text
  • Forward braille output
  • Play remote tones and connection sounds
  • Mute remote speech without disconnecting
  • Send Ctrl+Alt+Del to the remote machine

It supports all NVDA Remote protocol v2 message types.

Install

Optional packages:

sudo apt install xdotool sox xclip

Install the plugin:

./install

Restart Orca:

orca --replace

Done.

To auto-connect on startup:

./install <SERVER_ADDRESS> <PORT> <CHANNEL_KEY>

Quick start

On the NVDA machine, open NVDA Remote and get the server address, port, and key.

On the Orca machine, press Orca + Alt + C, or Page Up. Enter the same details and connect.

To control NVDA from Orca, press Orca + Alt + Tab. Press it again to return to local control.

Shortcuts

  • Orca + Alt + Tab: Toggle remote control
  • **Orca + Alt + Page Up or Orca + Alt + C **: Open connect dialog
  • Orca + Alt + Page Down: Disconnect
  • Ctrl + Shift + Orca + C: Send clipboard
  • Orca + Alt + M: Mute or unmute remote audio
  • Orca + Shift + Delete: Send Ctrl+Alt+Del

Connection modes

  • Control the remote machine: Orca controls NVDA
  • Allow this machine to be controlled: NVDA controls Orca

Dependencies

  • Python 3
  • GTK 3
  • xdotool for remote key input to Orca
  • sox optional, for tones
  • xclip optional, for clipboard fallback

Uninstall

./uninstall

Credits

Based on the NVDA Remote protocol.

License

GNU GPL v2.