[Blindmath] Accessible display format for matrices

Tue Nov 15 13:14:37 UTC 2011

I know everyone on here will cringe but in truth this is how I would want it
but again I like using just a text editor and this way seems to work great
with jaws for me. This is just a simple page with a 3 by 3 matrix.  It has
the bars because <pre> elements don't get converted.

<html>
<body>
 <H1>A Matrix</h1>
 <pre>
 3 | 9 | 8 
 4 | 6 | 5
 6 | 4 | 8
      </pre>
</body>
</html

-----Original Message-----
From: blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Richard Baldwin
Sent: Tuesday, November 15, 2011 8:03 AM
To: Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics
Subject: Re: [Blindmath] Accessible display format for matrices

Thanks Ken,

So far, that seems to be the most accessible option. I suppose I could style
the matrices as <pre>xx</pre> and put them in XHTML tables. That should make
them accessible to a screen reader and also make them look reasonable for
the sighted students in the course. Maybe there is a unicode character that
could be used to create the vertical bars that typically appear on printed
matrices. If so, I wonder how a screen reader would treat those characters.

Other suggestions are welcome.

Thanks,
Dick Baldwin

On Tue, Nov 15, 2011 at 6:47 AM, Ken Perry <kperry at blinksoft.com> wrote:

> When I did my matrix class back in the early 90's I used a text editor 
> and an old laptop calculator called Xplore.  The calculator still 
> exists but the newest version is not that accessible. I would just 
> type the matrix out in a text editor and space the columns.  That way 
> when I  wanted two add two rows I would block one row and put it under 
> the other and move things around.  I know that is not pretty but it 
> gave me a good feel of how the sighted folks did it.  I got to the 
> point where I could do up to 2 4 by 4 matrixes in my head only writing 
> down values as I multiplied them or if I was trying to solve them.  It 
> would take a bit of work to get back to that point now but all I am 
> saying is don't give up on the simple text editor  it sometimes is 
> nice to be able to easily see all the numbers in a row at a time.
>
> Ken
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org 
> [mailto:blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org]
> On
> Behalf Of Richard Baldwin
> Sent: Tuesday, November 15, 2011 6:53 AM
> To: Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics
> Subject: Re: [Blindmath] Accessible display format for matrices
>
> Hi Pranav,
>
> Thanks for the input. I understand how a spreadsheet can be used for 
> doing matrix computations. The main thing that I am looking for is the 
> most accessible display format. For example, MathML can be used to 
> create beautiful matrix equations in an HTML page. Beautiful, that is, 
> for sighted students. However, NVDA becomes silent when it encounters 
> MathML in a web page. I don't have a copy of Jaws, so I don't know how 
> it reacts to MathML in a web page.
>
> Most normal equations can be handled in an accessible manner by 
> writing them on a single line using programming format. Matrix 
> equations, on the other hand typically require three or four lines. I 
> wondering how to configure those three or four lines in such a way 
> that a blind student can make sense of them.
>
> Thanks,
> Dick Baldwin
>
> On Tue, Nov 15, 2011 at 4:11 AM, Pranav Lal <pranav.lal at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Hi Richard,
> >
> > I have worked a bit with matrices. At the time I did, a spreadsheet 
> > was the solution I chose. I could add rows and columns without a 
> > fuss and they were accessible. Excel is the tool to go for in 
> > windows. No special tool is required.
> >
> > On 11/15/11, Richard Baldwin <baldwin at dickbaldwin.com> wrote:
> > > I will be teaching the following course for the first time in the 
> > > Spring
> > > 2012 semester.
> > >
> > > GAME 2302 - Mathematical Applications for Game Development (3-3-1) 
> > > Presents applications of mathematics and science in game and 
> > > simulation programming. Includes the utilization of matrix and 
> > > vector operations, kinematics, and Newtonian principles in games 
> > > and simulations. Also
> > covers
> > > code optimization.
> > >
> > > The course must be accessible for blind and VI students. Even if 
> > > there
> > are
> > > accessible textbooks at the college level covering these topics 
> > > (which I
> > > doubt) it is far too late to adopt a new textbook for the course.
> > >
> > > I really need suggestions from those who teach mathematics and 
> > > blind students who study mathematics regarding the most accessible 
> > > formats for presenting matrix equations.
> > >
> > > If special reader software is required (beyond a standard screen
> > reader), I
> > > need to know that also.
> > >
> > > Thanks in advance.
> > > Dick Baldwin
> > >
> > > --
> > > Richard G. Baldwin (Dick Baldwin)
> > > Home of Baldwin's on-line Java Tutorials 
> > > http://www.DickBaldwin.com
> > >
> > > Professor of Computer Information Technology Austin Community 
> > > College
> > > (512) 223-4758
> > > mailto:Baldwin at DickBaldwin.com
> > > http://www.austincc.edu/baldwin/
> > > _______________________________________________
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> > ail.com
> > >
> >
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>
>
> --
> Richard G. Baldwin (Dick Baldwin)
> Home of Baldwin's on-line Java Tutorials http://www.DickBaldwin.com
>
> Professor of Computer Information Technology Austin Community College
> (512) 223-4758
> mailto:Baldwin at DickBaldwin.com
> http://www.austincc.edu/baldwin/
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--
Richard G. Baldwin (Dick Baldwin)
Home of Baldwin's on-line Java Tutorials http://www.DickBaldwin.com

Professor of Computer Information Technology Austin Community College
(512) 223-4758
mailto:Baldwin at DickBaldwin.com
http://www.austincc.edu/baldwin/
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