[Blindmath] mathML and Semantic MathML

[Neil Soiffer]

MathML contains two parts.  These are referred to as "presentation MathML"
and "content MathML".  Content MathML carries much more precise semantic
information in it then does presentation MathML, and hence potentially has
the ability to offer better access.  BUT:

1.  Well less than 1% of all MathML on the web is content MathML.  There
are very few editors that produce it.  If you include MathJax pages (which
are TeX or MathML, but which MathJax converts to presentation MathML for
MathPlayer), it is probably something like well less than 0.01% of all
pages use content MathML.

2.  It is possible to infer semantics from presentation MathML, especially
if the author gives the renderer information about the subject area.  That
is what every person does everyday when they read a printed page with math.

3.  Although MathML defines over 100 content tags, that is nowhere near
enough to cover math most math.  MathML 3 aligned itself with "OpenMath" to
give precise details about the meaning of content tags and to provide
greater functionality.  OpenMath is open-ended and meanings are defined by
content dictionaries which anyone can write.  Currently, the dictionaries
listed at openmath.org define about 1,000 operators, and often, operators
have qualifiers that affect meaning and speech.  Supporting those
dictionaries would be a lot of work, and that doesn't cover the
dictionaries that aren't registered there.

Also, most renderers only support presentation MathML -- MathPlayer might
be the only renderer available that can display content MathML (but not
content defined via content dictionaries with the exception of legacy
dictionaries for MathML 2).  There is a style sheet that converts MathML's
predefined content tags to presentation, but it doesn't cover the
dictionaries at openmath.org.  The bottom line is that content MathML is
largely confined to academic research use, and isn't used much in the real
world.

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



On Sun, Nov 6, 2011 at 3:03 PM, Kevin Chao <kevinchao89 at gmail.com> wrote:

> What's the difference between MathML and Semantic MathML, especially
> when it comes to providing spatial structure, relations, and the
> various operators/symbols, etc. for STEM content? In particular, does
> one have more potential or benefit for screen reader (speech and/or
> braille) accessibility?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Kevin
>
> _______________________________________________
> Blindmath mailing list
> Blindmath at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindmath_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> Blindmath:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindmath_nfbnet.org/neils%40dessci.com
>