[Blindmath] Blindmath Digest, Vol 73, Issue 3

[David Tseng]

Hi Tara,

I'll address your second question.

Project Gutenberg has a small but fairly wide range of mathematics
textbooks that voulanteers have transcribed into LaTeX, a mathematics
type setting language.

If you are seriously considering undergraduate/graduate work in
computer science, tex is almost a prerequisite. There is a learning
curve, but as the standard uses only plain text, you kind of skirt the
accessibility issues. It is also likely that professors will produce
their handouts, exercises, etc in this form.

Hth,
David

On 8/17/12, Tara Annis <tannis at afb.net> wrote:
> Everyone,
>
> I'm new to this list and also to the NFB blind science and blind computer
> science lists as well.  I wanted to subscribe to all 3 since I have a
> degree in Biology, am currently conducting research on STEM to present at
> ATIA and CSUN and AER, and lastly am considering going back to school for a
> computer science degree.  I have a lot of questions.  I've been reading some
> of the messages in the archives since I didn't want to ask questions that
> have been asked millions of times but I obviously haven't gotten through all
> of them--so apologize if been asked before:
>
> *Are there any math books textbooks on bookshare web site that can be read
> on a braille display?  I'm not talking about the standard ones with literary
> braille but those that would require being displayed in nemeth.  I know they
> have BRF files but will they display the correct braille characters since
> the books were scanned using different protocols.  It seems some of the math
> books have the equations scanned differently.  I think some of the editors
> keep the images of equations while others try and type them out to read with
> screen reader.  Have any of you found a specific title for a math textbook
> offered on bookshare that worked well with a braille display?
>
> I have the new math OCR reader called infty so am looking for PDF files or
> other image files to test its accuracy.  Do you all have any copies you
> could send me offlist?  I'm going to try the actual scanning of a book later
>  since I have to find a print math book.
>
> *Are there any other accessible math electronic textbooks that read on a
> braile display, either without making any changes or work after being r ran
> through a translator?  How about  iBooks or Kindle ones?  How about epub,
> does it read on a display?  Can Duxbury or Viewplus translate epub files
> into Nemeth?
>
> *Can a DSS office borrow  for free or pay a fee to borrow textbooks that
> have been transcribed  by other DSS offices?  Does GHLLC do this for
> example?
>
> *Where is the best place to get a nemeth and copuer braille code cheat sheet
> that gives the symbols and actual examples of the symbols  being used in
> math equations? Is there any place that has the print symbols next to the
> nemeth symbol so I can learn both?
>
> *Which raised line diagram board produces the most tactile lines, ones that
> are thick and convex?
>
> *Is the pictures in a flash the same as a thermoform machine that uses swell
> paper?
>
> *All of my coursework will most likely be online so I'm specifically
> seeking input from those who have completed STEM classes online.
> I know  about all the projects and am currently reviewing all their web
> sites and user manuals but really am seeking a step by step instructions by
> actual blind people who have used them to complete school work.
>
>
> Thanks for reading and look forward to your responses either to the entire
> list, to me off list, or via phone at 304 710 3035.
>
> Thanks for taking time in your busy day to help me and the rest of the list
> out!!!!
>
> Sincerely,
> Tara
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> 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/davidct1209%40gmail.com
>