[Blindmath] IOS7 and math support

[Susan Osterhaus]

Warning! Kevin, thanks for the link. However, if you have upgraded to iOS
7, I would advise against setting the render to MathML. I tried that, and
a window appeared asking me if I really wanted to do that and asked me to
select Cancel or OK. The window froze on top of the webpage and would not
respond to either Cancel or OK. Closing Safari and reopening it did
nothing, as the window just froze everything. I had to reboot my iPad to
get rid of it. I think this is an iOS 7 bug, as it has already done other
strange things to me. However, if you don't attempt to change the
rendering, VoiceOver will read the math. I don't like the way it read the
math, and it often substituted minus, minus, minus,... but at least it
made an attempt. I'd very much like to know if it reads simpler math more
easily or if it does a worse job. I also was unable to do any navigation
on the math on this webpage following Michael's instructions. Michael,
could you give us the webpage that you were successful in using?

Susan

-----Original Message-----
From: Blindmath [mailto:blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Kevin
Fjelsted
Sent: Friday, October 04, 2013 6:51 PM
To: Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics
Subject: Re: [Blindmath] IOS7 and math support

To see an example set of equations and try them with IOS voiceover go to
http://www.mathjax.org/demos/mathml-samples/ and set the render to MathML.
-Kevin

On Oct 4, 2013, at 3:17 PM, Michael Whapples <mwhapples at aim.com> wrote:

> Hello,
> I remember a brief comment recently about the math support in VoiceOver
in IOS7.
>
> I have just taken a quick look at some of it.
>
> My main interest is in accessibility of reading math, thus I have only
looked at that side of things.
>
> I viewed a page with some maths in MathML in Safari. VoiceOver read the
equations fine and allowed one to explore the equations bit by bit. When
flicking left and right, it appears an equation is a single object and
voiceover reads the entire equation. However once you are on the equation,
you may double tap it and go down a level to explore parts of the
fraction, and each part may be double tapped to decend another level. An
alternative way to explore the equation is that in the rotor you will find
options for size of parts of the equation to navigate by if flicking up
and down.
>
> I tried with my Braille display connected to see what Braille output
would be produced and the output was in Nemeth. I am not an expert in
Nemeth and I have only done some limited testing, but the Nemeth did look
correct to me.
>
> While I have not tried Nemeth input, one would hope that with all the
above math accessibility that may be the Nemeth input might be back
translation and MathML would be inserted. Quite where one might insert
math on an IOS device I am not sure (IE. can you enter it in any edit box
or must it be a math enabled one).
>
> Other things I have not tested is math accessibility in any other apps,
I do not know whether this is going to be limited to Safari and any apps
using the standard web browser control.
>
> Also assuming the Nemeth input does result in a proper equation, I do
not know what the option is for math input for those without a Braille
keyboard.
>
> Providing this support works as well on other equations other than the
limited ones I have tried it with, this certainly seems a step forward for
math accessibility.
>
> Michael Whapples
>
> _______________________________________________
> 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/kfjelsted%40gmail.c
om


_______________________________________________
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/susanosterhaus%40ts
bvi.edu