[Blindmath] JAWS and Nemeth - Newbie question

Fri Apr 1 18:51:54 UTC 2011

What about supporting and pushing forward web standards, such as:
HTML5, MathML, and ePub 3.0?
HTML5 and ePub 3.0 are  still being drafted, but user/community
feedback is very much encouraged, appreciated, and needed.

Design Science (companies who is behind MathType/MathML) and assistive
technology (companies, such as: NVAccess, Freedom Scientific, GW
Micro, and others) really need a better working relationship, where
it's researched and developed to work out of the box, without specific
plug-ins, and it allows producing and consuming. Design Science is
more than willing to work with AT, but they can't  do all the work,
need AT companies who are open, and willing to approach Design Science
as well.

All of these web standards, needed help of AT, will provide for future
access to all. Speech, braille, tactile graphics, and so much more.

On 4/1/11, Jose Tamayo <jtblas at hotmail.com> wrote:
> Hi,
>
> Unfortunately, many individuals believe that UEB is the answer and support
> for UEB has been built into some of the screen reader software.  As I write
> this,  we are working on drafting some kind of proposal for the screen
> reader companies.  It is no secret that Nemeth code is the standard in the
> US and has been for many years.  I would think that the software vendors
> would enable what is standardized for the part of the world that they are
> targeting.  I might argue that language support has been the priority of the
> few vendors that are providing screen reader support.  However, they have
> forgotten one communication  method; the nemeth code for mathematics which
> is a standard in the US.
>
> If the vendor will not provide an easy way to choose Nemeth code for
> mathematics as a braille and speech output, at least a method for creating
> and customizing the screen reader should be provided.  Oh by the way, the
> INI file method is incredibly cryptic and useless for much of the community
> that uses JAWS, for example.
>
> I envision a wizard type interface that would allow customization of braille
> tables so that software can be made to work in areas where they would
> otherwise not be accessible.
>
> I hope I am clear on the matter.
>
> Regards,
> Jose Tamayo
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Debbie Willis
> Sent: Friday, April 01, 2011 11:34 AM
> To: Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics
> Subject: Re: [Blindmath] JAWS and Nemeth - Newbie question
>
> 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
>
> _______________________________________________
> 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/jtblas%40hotmail.
> com
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> 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/neal%40duxsys.com
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> 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/jtblas%40hotmail.
> com
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> 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/dwillis%40aph.org
>
> _______________________________________________
> 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/jtblas%40hotmail.
> com
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> 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/kevinchao89%40gmail.com
>