[Blindmath] Sighted reading of Nemeth math

Tue Mar 17 12:17:22 UTC 2009

It actually takes us about 5 mins to go through a document and find the
computer Braille symbols. Although, after 5 years of using the PacMate we
both know the most common symbols that will be messed up in a print
document. I then ask the student what they intended for that problem and
they read the Braille display for me. I make the changes in the print
document before having them print it out for the teacher. 

Your school's transcriber should be knowledgeable in Literary Braille,
Nemeth Braille, and Computer Braille. I learned all these for the student I
work with as well as music Braille when they decided to join the school
band.

When it comes to copying the problems and the corresponding number and then
working them I will do:
1. copy the problems ahead of time into an RTF file and save it on the thumb
drive, then the student converts it to a BRF file and works them out during
class with their sighted peers

2. if I do not know about the assignment ahead of time, I will read the
problems to the student, they can work each problem then or I read all of
the problems to them so if they do not finish during class and it becomes
homework, they have all the work ready and then they do not need to take the
book home, just their PacMate

The teacher, VI teacher, and parent do not feel I am hindering this student
by preparing the problems ahead or by reading them when necessary. It is
very tedious task for them to do on their own, especially if there are
several problems. If there are only a few for example, up to 10 depending on
the complexity, like Algebra or Geometry they will copy the problems
themselves.

Hope some of this is useful to you.

-----Original Message-----
From: blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Blind Collegian
Sent: Monday, March 16, 2009 12:32 PM
To: Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics
Subject: Re: [Blindmath] Sighted reading of Nemeth math

Hi,
I also use the PAC Mate. You indicate that it takes the student about 5
minutes to go through the process of checking to make sure all the symbols
produced using the student's device makes sense. My school's transcriber is
not skilled in nemeth Code, so unfortunately it leaves me having to use a
standard text editor to produce my work. I know that sounds odd, but LaTeX
and other programs I contemplated on using are not among the options the
professors have, at least for now.
Also, does your student have to copy the problems and their corresponding
numbers from the textbook before showing how he/she solved the problem?
Spatial math on any device like the PAC mate can be time consuming.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Connie Baker" <cnsbaker at access.k12.wv.us>
To: "'Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics'"
<blindmath at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, March 16, 2009 5:58 AM
Subject: Re: [Blindmath] Sighted reading of Nemeth math

> Maybe it is due to the knowledge your Braille transcriber knows about
> Nemeth
> and computer Braille.
>
> My student uses a PacMate to do their math assignments. Before printing
> the
> final copy to give to their teacher, we go through the document together.
> I
> find the computer Braille symbols and they read what they meant to be
> there
> using their Braille display and make the necessary corrections. This takes
> about 5 minutes to complete.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org]
> On
> Behalf Of Blind Collegian
> Sent: Friday, March 13, 2009 10:16 PM
> To: Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics
> Subject: Re: [Blindmath] Sighted reading of Nemeth math
>
> Hi,
> I appreciate your input. However, my statement regarding nemeth Code
> making
> no sense to a naked eye was meant to refer to my math professor, who
> stated
> that the printout cannot be discerned, so I gave up. However, a certified
> Braille transcriber whom I spoke with said the work I created in Nemeth
> Code
>
> on the BrailleNote "made perfect sense". I wonder why the discrepancy.
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Susan Jolly" <easjolly at ix.netcom.com>
> To: <blindmath at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Friday, March 13, 2009 4:04 PM
> Subject: [Blindmath] Sighted reading of Nemeth math
>
>
>>I disagree with the claim about Nemeth math printed out from a BrailleNote
>> making "no sense to the naked
>> eye."
>>
>> If you print out Nemeth math from a BrailleNote in the original computer
>> braille (not backtranslated) it will show up as ASCII characters.  It
>> shouldn't take a math-knowledgeable sighted person more than a few
>> minutes
>> to learn to read it.  (The reason is much of computer braille was based
>> on
>> Nemeth math. For example, the digits and common symbols such as the plus
>> sign are identical.) Here's an article I wrote several years ago on this
>> topic that you might want to pass along to your teachers.
>> http://www.dotlessbraille.org/readnem.htm
>>
>> I'm glad to correspond with any sighted persons who need more help than
>> is
>> in my article.
>>
>> Sincerely,
>> SusanJ
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Blindmath mailing list
>> Blindmath at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindmath_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> Blindmath:
>>
>
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindmath_nfbnet.org/collegeandcareer%
> 40sbcglobal.net
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Blindmath mailing list
> Blindmath at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindmath_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> Blindmath:
>
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindmath_nfbnet.org/cnsbaker%40access
> .k12.wv.us
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Blindmath mailing list
> Blindmath at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindmath_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> Blindmath:
>
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindmath_nfbnet.org/collegeandcareer%
40sbcglobal.net

_______________________________________________
Blindmath mailing list
Blindmath at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindmath_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
Blindmath:
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindmath_nfbnet.org/cnsbaker%40access
.k12.wv.us