what is "gnome"

New user to Linux- I see "assistive technologies" and "Gnome"
What are these about and is it important to understand then as a new user?

many thanks

Gnome is just a graphical user interface, such as your windows desktop. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNOME

assistive technologies: screen readers, magnifier, etc.. linux.about.com/library/gnome/blgnome8n1.htm

dracozny answered this pretty well but I want to help you understand a little more about GUIs in Linux if you are new.

If you are familiar with the windows world, the program that shows you your desktop, start button, programs, task bar, etc. is what we call a window manager in Linux. This is kind of a new concept for windows users because they cannot change the window manager to anything other than what Microsoft has supplied.

In Linux you have so much freedom about how you want to use the computer that it can be overwhelming. Gnome is a desktop window manager. People call it by name because in Linux you can switch and use a different window manager and in the process make your computer look radically different than it did before. In linux you have several window managers to choose from. Gnome, Unity, KDE, LXFC, and more. The Gnome window manager is probably by far the most popular, but remember Linux is about freedom in computing and with it comes a little confusion.

Hope that help a little.

well we could go down a rabbit hole on the M$ Windows bit.. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_alternative_shells_for_Windows

You have me there dracozny!

But I was assuming the casual user would not know about alternate GUIs for in M$ Windows, where even if you are a new user to Linux you get bombarded with different window managers right off the bat.

Joe

Oh I know, I was just poking fun

Thanks chaps-- bit of banter never hurt anyone--

So gnome is just one of a number of available desktops and
assistive technologies are "helps" for disabled operators?

Well i didnt know about alternate desktops in windows
Thank goodness because i have enough trouble with computing anyway!!
regards