[Blindmath] mathplayer, jaws, and math in graphics?

Sun Apr 3 18:13:39 UTC 2011

Hi Kevin,

Yes, I like the fact that you narrowed your focus.
You have got most of it right.
Here are a few more points to consider.

1. MathML is much simpler to read with a screen reader; you do not need any prior training to understand MathML rendered with the help of MathPlayer. Have you installed and tested MathPlayer with a web page?
2. You can create MathML without learning how to write its code. LaTeX and even ASCII text can be converted to MathML.
3. LaTeX is both easier to write and faster to read, but involves a steep learning curve.
4. If you do not intend to do a lot of math in the future, you can even skip learning the structuring part of LaTeX and concentrate only on math expressions represented through LaTeX.
5. You can submit assignments by typing math expressions in LaTeX directly into your Word document and then converting them into regular looking math by using MathType.

Regards
--- On Sun, 4/3/11, Kevin Chao <kevinchao89 at gmail.com> wrote:

> From: Kevin Chao <kevinchao89 at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [Blindmath] mathplayer, jaws, and math in graphics?
> To: "Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics" <blindmath at nfbnet.org>
> Date: Sunday, April 3, 2011, 6:18 AM
> I've been researching this area a lot
> to figure out what's going to
> work the best in  math or science courses.
> 
> It looks like based on activity here,
> www.Access2Science.com and
> others; MathML and LaTeX
> the two formats for this area.
> 
> MathML looks like it's  more for authoring and
> presenting content,
> which requires specific browsers, plug-ins, and screen
> readers.
> There's a lot of syntax and tagging that's involved, which
> very much
> looks like HTML.
> 
> LaTeX seems to be what publishers and users use to produce
> and consume
> and is a much friendly format to work with. It seems 
> that LaTeX has
> been around for much longer and is a better area to place
> more time
> and energy on.
> 
> Am I completely off base with MathML and LaTeX?
> 
> Please clarify of what's best to use when working with math
> and
> science college courses.
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Kevin
> 
> On 4/2/11, Alex Hall <mehgcap at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> > That will be quite helpful, thanks!
> >
> > On 4/2/11, John Gardner <john.gardner at orst.edu>
> wrote:
> >> If you want to learn math Latex, there is a good
> tutorial and a basically
> >> complete set of Latex math tables linked from
> >> http://www.access2science.com
> >> John
> >>
> >>
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org
> [mailto:blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org]
> >> On
> >> Behalf Of PR Stanley
> >> Sent: Saturday, April 02, 2011 3:57 PM
> >> To: Blind Math list for those interested in
> mathematics
> >> Subject: Re: [Blindmath] mathplayer, jaws, and
> math in graphics?
> >>
> >> The Latex source on wikibook and wikipedia is an
> absolute godsend.
> >> it really isn't that hard to learn Latex. If
> anyone need to learn it
> >> for a college/university course, please don't
> hesitate to get in
> >> touch with me offlist.
> >> Paul
> >>
> >> At 23:31 02/04/2011, you wrote:
> >>>I have run into this on many sites, including
> bitg ones like wikibooks
> >>>and wikipedia, so it would be no small thing
> for them to convert. It
> >>>is a shame that this will not work!
> >>>
> >>>On 4/2/11, Birkir R. Gunnarsson <birkir.gunnarsson at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> >>> > Hi
> >>> >
> >>> > MathPlayer can only render MathML (not
> LaTeX) at this time, and only
> >>> > into speech (not into braille). It will
> show refreshable braille on
> >>> > the screen, but it will be the text
> string that it speaks, such as
> >>> > "Ay squared minus 3 x."
> >>> >
> >>> > A LaTeX source will not help in this
> regard, and MathML is not very
> >>> > suitable for alt text.
> >>> > I believe there are Jaws scripts being
> developed that turn LaTeX
> >>> > source code into spoken math (Jose knows
> more on this and I can dig up
> >>> > all the info and send it to you
> off-list).
> >>> > That would probably be your best bet.
> >>> > The other option would be to encourage
> the page designers to use
> >>> > MathML to create the images, and you can
> use MathPlayer to play them.
> >>> > They can check out MathJax (http://www.mathjax.org) for a way to
> >>> > create good looking math based on MathML
> that works in every browser
> >>> > that support Javascript.
> >>> > None of the MathML solutions will get you
> Nemeth code, however, a Word
> >>> > document with the math in it can be
> translated to Nemeth and embossed
> >>> > via Duxbury DBT 11.1 or ViewPlus TSS.
> >>> > hth
> >>> > -Birkir
> >>> >
> >>> > On 4/2/11, PR Stanley <prstanley at ntlworld.com>
> wrote:
> >>> >> could you send us a sample?
> >>> >>
> >>> >> At 22:49 02/04/2011, you wrote:
> >>> >>>Hi all,
> >>> >>>I am trying to read some math
> notation. As is increasingly common,
> >>> >>>this notation is in a graphic and
> has its alt tag set to what appears
> >>> >>>to be latex notation. I downloaded
> Math Player, but it does not even
> >>> >>>show up in the list of add-ons
> (this is ie8, and I did restart the
> >>> >>>browser). I just want to read math
> without all the backslashes,
> >>> >>>braces, and commands (vec, frac,
> and all those). As it stands, I
> >>> >>>usually have no idea what the
> image is trying to say, which, of
> >>> >>>course, does me no good at all. I
> am using jaws 12.
> >>> >>>
> >>> >>>--
> >>> >>>Have a great day,
> >>> >>>Alex (msg sent from GMail
> website)
> >>> >>>mehgcap at gmail.com;
> http://www.facebook.com/mehgcap
> >>> >>>
> >>>
> >>>_______________________________________________
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> >>> >>
> >>> >>
> >>> >>
> _______________________________________________
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> >>>
> >>>
> >>>--
> >>>Have a great day,
> >>>Alex (msg sent from GMail website)
> >>>mehgcap at gmail.com;
> http://www.facebook.com/mehgcap
> >>>
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> >
> >
> > --
> > Have a great day,
> > Alex (msg sent from GMail website)
> > mehgcap at gmail.com;
> http://www.facebook.com/mehgcap
> >
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