[Blindmath] Question about doing math in notepad

Mon Aug 22 10:17:26 UTC 2011

Ben,
Thank you. I'll take a look at this more tonight but I appreciate the input.
I need to run but thank you again.
Daria
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ben Humphreys" <brh at opticinspiration.org>
To: "Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics" 
<blindmath at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, August 22, 2011 5:46 AM
Subject: Re: [Blindmath] Question about doing math in notepad


> Dear Daria,
>
> Given the lateness of the hour, many of the solutions proposed are not 
> going to work very well for you right away.
>
> If you're comfortable with Notepad and can enlist the cooperation of your 
> instructur, I'd like to propose a "home-grown" "quick-and-dirty" solution 
> which will buy you some time.  Here is what I was thinking:
>
> 1.  Type your equations in notepad
> 2.  Replace x squared with x^2, x-cubed with x^3, etc.
> 3.  Replace square root sign with sqrt
> 4.  Use parenthesis to clarify what sqrt is referring to
> 5.  Usethe following characters for your operators: < > <= >= = and <> as 
> you would in a programming language
> 6. Use the greek words instead of the symbols, so "pi" instead of trying 
> to insert a pie symbol.
> 6.  And here's the interesting part: Add a series of dictionary 
> definitions for Notepad (using JAWS Ins+D command) for the above.  For 
> example:
>
> "^2" becomes "squared"
> "^3" becomes "cubed"
> "^4" becomes "to the 4th power"
> "<>" becomes "is not equal to"
> "<=" becomes "less than or equal to"
> "sqrt" becomes "the square root of"
> "-" becomes "minus" (instead of the usual "dash")
>
> This way, when you have JAWS speak the current line, it will read it like 
> a human would.
> 7.  Another way to keep things clear is to insert a new line in strategic 
> places such as after an equal sign.  For example:
>
> x^2 + 4 = 2x - 7
>
> would be easier to read as
>
> x^2 + 4
> =
> 2x - 7
> 8.  For division, I'd put the numerator on the first line, the characters 
> "---" on the 2nd line and the denominator on the third.  Further, I'd 
> setup a dictionary definition for "---" to say "divided by"
>
> If you and your instructor could agree on a small number of rules like 
> this, you could easily exchange homework assignments and tests in this way 
> without any conversion necessary.  Just use a small travel printer to 
> print in class or e-mail via wifi.
>
> This approach will buy you some time and allow you to develop an 
> appreciation for the more sophisticated solutions.And if you don't plan to 
> spend any more time than necessary in a math class of the future, then 
> it's probably "good enough."
>
> Ben
>
> At 05:56 PM 8/21/2011, you wrote:
>>Hi,
>>Just a small problem that needs to be taken in to considderation...
>>Bit of info number one: I go to a private school which does not have a TVI 
>>of any type.
>>Bit of info number two: Braille displays aren't cheap. The only thingI 
>>have is an 18 cell RefreshaBraille18 from Aph.
>>Last bit of info: I start school tomorrow and I'm using a computer for 
>>everything else. While I have a braille writer it's hard to find people 
>>willing to read math problems and such.
>>I don't mean to be rude but this is what all of the college students in my 
>>Ncabs group seem to be learning or using competently as the case maybe. If 
>>I let this wait and only learn it a few months before college when nerves 
>>are strung as tight as whip-cord and Dsb is giving me grief because I need 
>>more technology than most because I am partially deaf with a fairly good 
>>chance of being profoundly deaf by 35 well... I don't think not learning 
>>would be a good idea right now.
>>Thank you and I'm sorry if I come across a bit more strongly than perhaps 
>>I intend for in truth it is not my intention at all. I just want people to 
>>understand that I am not working on a mainstream public school system 
>>neither am I making my stand on a field that is level by comparison with 
>>what you can think of as just plain vanilla blind although there aren't 
>>many of those around.
>>Again I'm sorry if I come over a bit harsh but this is something everyone, 
>>not just blind people but anyone else with a disability needs to 
>>understand. We don't all play the same game, we don't do the same things 
>>with our lives, and we most certainly don't get the option of saying that 
>>there is one way and only one way to do a thing.
>>Daria
>>----- Original Message ----- From: "Susan Jolly" <easjolly at ix.netcom.com>
>>To: <blindmath at nfbnet.org>
>>Sent: Sunday, August 21, 2011 4:44 PM
>>Subject: [Blindmath] Question about doing math in notepad
>>
>>
>>>Hi Dasha,
>>>
>>>If you are in high school you shouldn't need to know anything except 
>>>Nemeth. Your TVI should be interlining your work so you can focus on 
>>>understanding math.
>>>
>>>Alternatively, I would suggest that you learn to use Nemetex, which was 
>>>developed by a blind high school student now attending college.  This 
>>>program automatically converts Nemeth algebra and other Nemeth math that 
>>>you enter using a braille display to LaTeX so a sighted person can read 
>>>it.
>>>
>>>http://www.accessisoft.com/
>>>
>>>Best wishes,
>>>Susan Jolly
>>>
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>>
>>
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>
>
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