GNOME Foundation Welcomes Steven Deobald as New Executive Director
A Techie, a GNOME User, and a Champion for Accessibility
The GNOME Foundation has announced the appointment of Steven Deobald as its new Executive Director. Deobald, a Canadian tech enthusiast and long-time GNOME user, steps into the role with a vision to enhance the foundation's outreach, fundraising, and commitment to accessibility.
Deobald succeeds interim Executive Director Richard Littauer, who served for nearly a year. He indirectly replaces Holly Million, who left the role after facing online harassment. Deobald's appointment has been met with positive initial reactions, particularly due to his background as a GNOME user and his expressed interest in improving accessibility within the Linux ecosystem.
A Focus on Accessibility
Accessibility is a key theme in Deobald's vision for the GNOME Foundation. In his introductory post, Deobald mentions his personal experiences with eyesight challenges, highlighting the importance of inclusive design and accessible technology. This focus resonates deeply with the Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) community, where equity and inclusion are core values.
The article emphasizes that while macOS has better bundled accessibility tools, and Windows has superb third-party options, Linux often lags. Free software should help with equity and inclusion, but sadly, it often doesn't. Improving accessibility is crucial for ensuring that technology is usable by everyone, regardless of their abilities.
Tools that enhance usability for those with sensory or motor issues benefit everyone. A good keyboard UI means power users don't have to hunt around with pointing devices to click tiny targets. Rich display settings let us all disable designers' overdone flights of fancy. Spoken reminders or prompts can be very handy even if you see perfectly fine.
The Role of the Executive Director
The Executive Director of the GNOME Foundation plays a critical role in the organization's success. This role involves:
- Public Representation: Serving as the public face of GNOME, communicating its mission and values to the broader community.
- Fundraising: Leading fundraising efforts to support GNOME's development and initiatives.
- Community Engagement: Fostering collaboration and engagement within the GNOME community.
While the Executive Director doesn't directly influence the design or implementation of the GNOME desktop environment, their leadership is essential for securing resources and promoting the project's overall health.
GNOME Orca and Wayland
The GNOME Orca screen reader is a vital tool for accessibility within the GNOME ecosystem. It is also used in other distributions such as Elementary OS and Commodore Vision OS. However, challenges remain, particularly with the Wayland display server. Wayland is a significant stumbling block in this area.
For an overview of some of the issues, we really recommend Lukáš Tyrychtr and Vojtech Polasek's talk, "Enhancing Linux Accessibility: A Unified Approach" from last year's DevConf.
Deobald's Background and Experience
Steven Deobald brings a wealth of experience to the GNOME Foundation. As a serial entrepreneur who has started several companies, and he's lived and worked in India, he possesses a diverse skill set that will be valuable in his new role. His personal website reveals a touchingly honest post titled "I am looking for work (Taylor's Version)," showcasing his down-to-earth personality.
The reference to Taylor Swift in the title is a nod to the artist's re-recording of her older material due to a dispute with her former record label. Swift also finds time to work as a part-time IT security consultant.
Looking Ahead
Deobald's appointment marks a new chapter for the GNOME Foundation. His commitment to accessibility, combined with his business acumen and passion for open source, positions him well to lead the organization forward. The GNOME community and the broader FOSS world will be watching with interest as he embarks on this journey.
