[Blindmath] Math editing and conversion

Mon Feb 2 22:03:33 UTC 2009

The new version of MathType translates Latex in MS Word to displayed visual
math.  You can just write a Latex equation, with $ signs around it, and
MathType gobbles it up and inserts an equation in its place.  Once
converted, you can get MathType to export Latex to the clipboard too.  Not
really as usable as it could be, but better than nothing.  

-----Original Message-----
From: blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Alastair Irving
Sent: Monday, February 02, 2009 10:04 AM
To: Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics
Subject: Re: [Blindmath] Math editing and conversion

Hi

I believe there exists at least 1 Nemeth to LaTeX translator.
Therefore, assuming you can save a braille file on your BrailleNote and
transfer it to a computer, (if it is saved as a .brf or similar then no
translation should occur), you could translate the nemeth to LaTeX and then
compile the LaTeX to PDF.

I don't know what level of maths is involved in your class, but for fairly
simple algebra you could probably manage just using plain text, with ^ for
superscripts, / for fractions, etc.  The results obviously won't be as
pretty but its the most simple method provided things aren't too complex.

Alternatively, you could look at Chatty Infty, or the lambda project.
Both of these are editors designed for use by blind people doing
mathematics, and I know that at least Lambda has Braille support.

Personally, I work in LaTeX directly, using the LaTeX-access scripts to aid
in reading, so have no actual experience of the above software.  If you
intend to do more Mathematics classes then I strongly advise learning LaTeX,
it has a steeper learning curve than any of the above but the results are
definitely worth it, especially considering the volume of mathematical
documents written in LaTeX.

Finally, I would suggest that if you're posting to the list in future about
a new topic then you start a new message rather than replying to an old one.
Even if you change the subject line, various mail headers are left which
refer to the initial thread, meaning that people using threaded mailreaders
and also probably the archive will list your message as part of the old
thread.

Alastair

Blind Collegian wrote:
> Hello,
> I registered for an Algebra class and my instructor is not familiar 
> with LaTeX and wants to know if there are any means of doing math more 
> efficiently using a certain computer program to create math equations 
> and expressions.
> Is there a computer-based math program that does not have a lot of 
> learning curve? I want to be able to use it in Braille and either 
> print it or email it to the instructor.
> I have a BrailleNote, but at this point I do not have the ability to 
> print Nemeth Code straight out of the device without any translation 
> happening in the background. Any ay advice would be greatly appreciated.
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Robin Williams" 
> <robster3 at hotmail.com>
> To: "'Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics'"
> <blindmath at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Monday, February 02, 2009 8:33 AM
> Subject: Re: [Blindmath] Spss 16 nightmare
> 
> 
>> Vincent,
>>  Yes, R can do everything that SPSS can do (almost certainly) and 
>> probably more if you use the various freely-distributed packages 
>> available. It is accessible to a large degree, especially if you run 
>> the back-end terminal
>> (rterm.exe) found in the /bin directory.
>>  I don't know for sure, but there is almost certainly a plugin to 
>> enable you to read SPSS files. Check out the r-project website. If I 
>> am wrong and there isn't, just export the output to some common 
>> format and import it with R.
>>  HTH
>>
>> Robin Williams.
>> Mobile:
>> 07525 809495
>> (Note: I have been giving an incorrect mobile number for the last 
>> several months, please update your contact details).
>> Personal email and MSN:
>> robster3 at hotmail.com
>> University email (please use this address):
>> rmw205 at exeter.ac.uk
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org 
>> [mailto:blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org]
>> On
>> Behalf Of Jared Wright
>> Sent: 31 January 2009 22:20
>> To: Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics
>> Subject: Re: [Blindmath] Spss 16 nightmare
>>
>> Vincent, Is your instructor not using the standard JDK distributed by 
>> Sun for developing Java? If that's the compiler being used, and I've 
>> no idea why it wouldn't be, you should be able to just compile from 
>> the command line with javac. Of course, if you like the interactive 
>> environment of Eclipse, that's another story but if it's merely 
>> because of compilation problems, this might be preferable.
>>
>> Will be happy to help further off list, but I venture beyond the 
>> scope of this community now.
>>
>> Best,
>> Jared
>>
>> vincent wrote:
>>> Hello:
>>> I am taking a quantitative research methods and Engineering 
>>> Psychology
>> class
>>> this semester and both are requiring me to use SPSS version 16 to
>> calculate
>>> results.  I have done everything imaginable to make SPSS talk enough 
>>> for
>> me
>>> to use, but to no avail.  I have installed the old scripts and the 
>>> Java access bridge.  It speaks somewhat, but not enough to truly
function.
>>> The
>>> disability services office took my advice and is going to provide me 
>>> a reader to read the screen for me, so I can at least complete my 
>>> homework.
>>
>>>
>>> Does anyone know if the statistical package "R: can do the same 
>>> things
>> that
>>> SPSS will do?  Also, will it read a .sav Spss file or will I have to 
>>> try
>> and
>>> export the data from the spss file.
>>> Any assistance would be greatly appreciated, because I just don't 
>>> have the time to do all the research this weekend myself.  I have to 
>>> spend time catching up in my JAVA programming class.  Of curse the 
>>> compiler the
>> school
>>> is using was written in JAVA and does not speak enough to use.  I 
>>> have
>> moved
>>> on to Eclipse and am happily coding away.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> "If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs, 
>>> you'll be
>> a
>>> Man, my son!"
>>>
>>> Rudyard Kipling
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>
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>>>
>>
>>
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> 
> 
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