[Blindmath] LaTeX

[Tim in 't Veld]

Paul,
LateX has an enormous worldwide user base in academia.
Converting lateX to pdf using pdflatex is a proven and reliable process.
That is, assuming the user writes perfect lateX it is unlikely that 
pdfLatex produces output with another meaning than the user intended.
However, getting the lateX source right is not trivial.
As formulas and formatting become more complicated the user can easily 
make errors. If the user is blind, he may not be able to spot those 
errors in the output PDF file. Hence, while a blind student can be 
expected to check his output he cannot be judged by the same layout or 
accuracy standards as his sighted peers.

So when a professor checks a lateX document produced by a blind student 
he should bear that in mind. Should the professor spot incorrect layout 
or ambiguous material I think he can usually judge if the student 
actually understands the tested course matter based on the explanation 
and other contextual information. Whenever the professor is in doubt, he 
should discuss the situation with the student - but in practice I don't 
think this will occur often.

I don't see the point in converting lateX to mathml in a study setting. 
There are solutions to read mathML, but they are incomplete and 
complicated. In my opinion they do not add any value if the student can 
just read the lateX source. I think it would mainly be useful if a 
student wanted to publish material on the web.

Tim
On 13-6-2013 19:29, Paul Chapin wrote:
> There are several Latex to Mathml conversion programs out there and it would be interesting to see what people's experiences with them are, but if Shalini is preparing her material in Latex, wouldn't it be best if she did all her editing and proofing on the Latex side?  She could then convert to a pdf and send that to the instructor. How comfortable are we with depending of the Latex to pdf conversion being correct?
>
> Paul Chapin
> Academic Technology Specialist
> Amherst College
> X2144
>
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>
> From: Shalini Menon <shalini1394 at gmail.com<mailto:shalini1394 at gmail.com>>
> Reply-To: Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics <blindmath at nfbnet.org<mailto:blindmath at nfbnet.org>>
> Date: Thursday, June 13, 2013 12:55 PM
> To: "jtblas at hotmail.com<mailto:jtblas at hotmail.com>" <jtblas at hotmail.com<mailto:jtblas at hotmail.com>>, Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics <blindmath at nfbnet.org<mailto:blindmath at nfbnet.org>>
> Subject: Re: [Blindmath] LaTeX
>
> Thank you.
> How do you convert LaTeX to MathML?
>
> Shalini
>
> On 6/13/13, Jose Tamayo <jtblas at hotmail.com<mailto:jtblas at hotmail.com>> wrote:
> Well, let's check if the LaTeX - Access projectis further along.  IT
> promises to provide JAWS access to LaTeX through any of the standard
> windows
> applications or even Adobe reader.
>
> Regards,
> Jose Tamayo
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Blindmath [mailto:blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
> Rasmussen, Lloyd
> Sent: Thursday, June 13, 2013 12:19 PM
> To: Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics
> Subject: Re: [Blindmath] LaTeX
>
> There is nothing you can do with a screen reader and Adobe Reader to make
> PDF math readable.  You either have to learn LaTeX syntax or convert the
> expressions to MathML.
>
> Lloyd Rasmussen, Senior Project Engineer National Library Service for the
> Blind and Physically Handicapped
> Library of Congress   202-707-0535
> http://www.loc.gov/nls
> The preceding opinions are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of
> the Library of Congress, NLS.
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Blindmath [mailto:blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Shalini
> Menon
> Sent: Thursday, June 13, 2013 11:12 AM
> To: Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics
> Subject: Re: [Blindmath] LaTeX
>
> Thanks a lot Jonathan.
> I have another question. I have been able to write out Math equations in
> LaTeX, but Jaws isn't able to read it very well when I convert it to a PDF
> document. Do I need to convert the LaTeX document to MathML and then read
> it
> with Math player, or do I need to make changes to Jaws settings?
>
> Thanks,
> Shalini
> ...
>
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