[Blindmath] An Example of How MathML Pronunciation Could be Wrong

[Neil Soiffer]

Please don't mistake what MathPlayer or some other application speaks
for some MathML as being inherent in the MathML.  Each application
chooses its own words.  In fact, MathPlayer 3 has several ways to
speak expressions.  Also, be aware that the vertical bar is very
ambiguous in math.  See [1] for some examples.

This summer we will start adding subject area rules for math
notations.  We are starting with geometry and will likely move to
probability and statistics next, but it partly depends upon the
interests and successes of the student who will doing it.  Once we do
add probability, and the listener or author of the content says that
this is probability, then it would be read better.  Perhaps like
"Probability of ay given b equals (pause) fraction probability of b
given ay  times probability of ay (pause) over probability of b
(pause) end fraction" when the speech target is "blind" -- the
"fraction/end fraction" would be absent when the speech target is
"learning disability" or "low vision".  In a terse mode, "probability"
would like be just "p".  If the AT supports SAPI or SSML, the "ay"
will be a pronunciation tag for the long "a" sound (just like it is
now).  If MathPlayer doesn't know the context, it needs to fall back
to a generic reading like you give (although what you wrote seems to
be missing the "p"s).

Neil Soiffer
Senior Scientist
Design Science, Inc.
www.dessci.com
~ Makers of MathType, MathFlow, MathPlayer, MathDaisy, Equation Editor ~


[1]  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vertical_bar

On Sun, Apr 17, 2011 at 9:57 AM, Roopakshi Pathania
<r_akshi_tgk at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> I have always known this, but while looking through websites using MathML for my article for Access2Science, I found an actual example.
>
> The equation here is the statement for Bayes' Theorem in MathML as well as in LaTeX.
> Those who don't know Bayes' theorem, but have studied with the help of MathML and LaTeX will be able to spot the difference.
> Note that I cannot say whether the irregularity is due to the way it is pronounced, or due to the underlying code.
> In any case, this is just an example to show that MathML can on occasions be pronounced incorrectly, and not a signal to spark another MathML vs LaTeX debate.
>
> open  cap ay divides cap bee  close equals. fraction  cap pr  open  cap bee  divides  cap ay  close  cap pr  open  cap ay  close over,  cap pr  open  cap bee  close, end fraction.
>
> http://xbeta.org/wiki/show/Bayes%27+theorem
>
> P(A|B) = \frac{P(B|A)\, P(A)}{P(B)}.
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayes'_theorem
>
> Sent from my Lenovo ThinkPad
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