[Blindmath] JAWS and Nemeth - Newbie question

Fri Apr 1 15:33:38 UTC 2011

My wish for students in the USA is that screen readers could read mathematics in an understandable manner and that contracted code for mathematics could be output to refreshable braille displays.
Debbie

-----Original Message-----
From: blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Jose Tamayo
Sent: Friday, February 18, 2011 7:13 PM
To: 'Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics'
Subject: Re: [Blindmath] JAWS and Nemeth - Newbie question

Agreed!

-----Original Message-----
From: blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Neal
Sent: Friday, February 18, 2011 2:13 PM
To: 'Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics';
andrew.stacey at math.ntnu.no
Subject: Re: [Blindmath] JAWS and Nemeth - Newbie question

FYI:  
Unlike music braille, there is no standard braille math code for the world.
It all depends on where you are.

I think the term "math support" will mean different math braille codes to
people in different places.
 In the USA it will mean Nemeth braille code, in the UK it will probably
mean the BAUK braille math code, in France it will probably mean the French
braille math code, in much of Germany it will probably mean the Marburg
braille math code.

Cheers,
Neal

-----Original Message-----
From: blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Jose Tamayo
Sent: Friday, February 18, 2011 2:56 PM
To: andrew.stacey at math.ntnu.no; 'Blind Math list for those interested in
mathematics'
Subject: Re: [Blindmath] JAWS and Nemeth - Newbie question

I agree and would consider wording the statement in a way that positions
certain standards such as Nemeth Code for Mathematics.  Certain vendors
might decide that UEB is sufficient for Math support.   

I received a message recently asking to desist from requesting Nemeth Math
support because UEB is the standard.  I urge that we find a way to work
around those rejections / opinions.

I was told that Dr. Nemeth is protecting his turf and that he would
recommend his code.  My argument against it was that Nemeth Code is a
standard and was accepted in 1972 and should be supported.  Beyond the
issues of turf, the problem remains:  people that rely on the Standard
Nemeth Code for Mathematics are not able to function because of the outrage
about turf protection.  Quite frankly, I don't care about turf.  I care
about facilitation and choosing a system that works for me.  If nemeth and
UEB are standards, then they should be enabled in screen readers.  

I will add that, while my position might seem biased, I should remind that I
started using nemeth about three years ago and thought it to be well
structured.  I don't have an opinion on UEB only because I did not have the
time to "play" with another standard.

I digress!
-----Original Message-----
From: blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Andrew Stacey
Sent: Friday, February 18, 2011 1:11 PM
To: Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics
Subject: Re: [Blindmath] JAWS and Nemeth - Newbie question

On Fri, Feb 18, 2011 at 05:34:03PM +0000, Birkir Rúnar Gunnarsson wrote:
> What do people think about creating a web-based petition for screen
> reader vendors to add Nemeth support for refreshable braille?

This would also make it easier for sighted people to support you.  I don't
feel that I could email a company directly and say "Support maths in your
screen reader!" because I don't use a screen reader.  But I could sign
a petition that said something like "Making maths accessible is extremely
important and I support the petition to encourage companies to make their
screen readers work with mathematics.".

I suspect that you might get quite a bit of support from the wider
mathematics
community for that - we're well aware of the inherent difficulties in
communicating mathematics and so are generally in favour of anything that
removes barriers that have no reason to be there.

Hmm, not sure if that makes sense.  What I mean is that we know well enough
that there are already massive barriers to making mathematics available to
all
that where these barriers are external and have nothing to do with the
mathematics itself, then we're all the more ready to tear them down.

Andrew

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