[Blindmath] Typing in Nemeth Braille

Mon Sep 16 08:10:04 UTC 2013

Learning some parts of LaTeX will be required regardless of whether you 
use LaTeX entirely for the document or use a tool like MathType with 
Word (with MathType one can enter equations using LaTeX notation, but 
other software, including some wikis also can use LaTeX notation for 
entering equations).

So probably the best option is to find a good LaTeX book/tutorial. I 
might not be the best person for this, but one resource I find good as a 
reference, or to find a basic outline of LaTeX packages which are new to 
me (I believe there is also a more beginner section for getting started 
but I have not read that), is the LaTeX wiki book at 
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/LaTeX. Another popular one which I have not 
used is the "Not so short introduction to LaTeX".

If you are going down the MathType route then you only really need to 
concern yourself with the math part of LaTeX, however you probably would 
need to also refer to MathType documentation as it will only support a 
subset of LaTeX notation.

If you plan to use the LaTeX system for the entire document then you 
would want to go through the sections such as getting started, 
installing the LaTeX system, etc.

If you have an idea where you might work, then you might want to 
consider what they use, certainly for LaTeX only those who really use it 
would actually be able to help. Tools like MathType might be simpler for 
sighted users to help even if they have little experience with MathType.

To explain the difference, MathType has a graphical editor which sighted 
users can use, where as with LaTeX you might be dealing with the source 
code directly (it is a form of a programming language). While there are 
graphical editors for LaTeX, these can produce complicated LaTeX source 
code which you possibly would not want to deal with by hand.

MathType can suffer with producing complicated LaTeX notation should you 
toggle a MathType equation back to LaTeX notation, but this is slightly 
more managable as only the equation is in LaTeX notation (in my mind a 
small chunk of complication is simpler to manage than a large chunk).

Michael Whapples
On 15/09/2013 17:16, I. C. Bray wrote:
> Michael,
> What or how would you recommend getting started?  Regardless of the learning
> curve or software or quid pro quo's ?  Keep in mind that you want to be both
> a student, teacher, and possible blindness researcher?
>
> Thank you for the Blind-Science notice.  I was actually contacted by someone
> this morning!  I would, however; like to make it known that I am interested
> in the Science Organization, and would appreciate any community that exists.
>
> Ian
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Michael Whapples" <mwhapples at aim.com>
> To: "Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics"
> <blindmath at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Sunday, September 15, 2013 11:35 AM
> Subject: Re: [Blindmath] Typing in Nemeth Braille
>
>
> : Here are a few comments of mine for what it is worth.
> :
> : I agree with Niel that using MathType and Word is possibly a simpler
> : option for those who already know how to use Word. Also MathType having
> : the LaTeX input mode/toggle in Word does mean that mathType is
> : sufficiently accessible to be usable.
> :
> : As well as using Duxbury to convert a Word document with MathType
> : equation, there is also the Tiger Software Suite from ViewPlus
> : Technologies. I probably also should disclose that I do work for
> : ViewPlus, so I will withhold making comments on how well either work, I
> : am just putting forward the other option. I believe both do have demo
> : versions so you can try both and see which is better for you.
> :
> : Scientific notebook has been mentioned, something I know little of, but
> : it certainly seems to get much less discussion than the other options.
> : Also I do not know what accessibility it does or does not have.
> :
> : Another popular option is to write the document in LaTeX, great if you
> : are going to make sufficient use of it as it probably is the most
> : flexible and powerful option. The big down side is that there is quite a
> : lot to learn and so the learning time is certainly not insignificant.
> :
> : I must also note that all three of the above options rely on software
> : translation to produce Braille, and so the Braille output is only as
> : good as the software is. This is unlikely to be perfect at best,
> : speaking for myself when I did a physics degree between 2003 and 2007
> : the British Braille support in a popular Braille translation package was
> : as good as useless (eg. many symbols not even known, some LaTeX commands
> : causing the translation software to stop translating with no error
> : message, etc). My point here mainly being that you certainly want to
> : test the software first, you may not be able to purely rely on it (I
> : would personally say it probably would need some form of proof reading).
> :
> : I would say that the blind person should at least be able to understand
> : the main stream format (eg. LaTeX or MathType in Word), so at least if
> : there is Braille translation issues they can refer back to the original
> : document to see what they should have.
> :
> : On the topic of the NFB-Science list, I believe it does tend to be much
> : quieter.
> :
> : Michael Whapples
> : On 15/09/2013 07:03, I. C. Bray wrote:
> : > Neil,
> : > Well, I am going to need to use something, and I have been putting off
> : > deciding until I get some idea what's out there and what makes sence for
> me.
> : > I don't want to have to learn 5 new programs and try to keep the command
> &
> : > control sets seperate...
> : > I've been reading the BlindMath ListServ and hearing the difficulties
> and am
> : > just hoping I collect enough info and various ways to approach my own
> Math,
> : > Science, and Teaching needs now that I'm blind.
> : >
> : > OH, Side note question.
> : > Is the Blind Science listserv not active??  I Joined the list, and do
> not
> : > think I got any replies...
> : >
> : > Ian
> : > ----- Original Message -----
> : > From: "Neil Soiffer" <NeilS at dessci.com>
> : > To: "Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics"
> : > <blindmath at nfbnet.org>
> : > Sent: Sunday, September 15, 2013 1:52 AM
> : > Subject: Re: [Blindmath] Typing in Nemeth Braille
> : >
> : >
> : > : You can also use MathType with Word and then use Duxbury to translate
> to
> : > : Nemeth.  Like Scientific notebook, with MathType you just type the
> math in
> : > : using an easy math editor. If you are a familiar with Word, it is
> probably
> : > : a better option than getting Scientific Notebook and having to learn
> that.
> : > : MathType is just a math editor and so is a lot cheaper than Scientific
> : > : notebook.  Your school might already have a site license [full
> disclosure:
> : > : my company makes MathType]
> : > :
> : > : Neil Soiffer
> : > : Senior Scientist
> : > : Design Science, Inc.
> : > : www.dessci.com
> : > : ~ Makers of MathType, MathFlow, MathPlayer, MathDaisy, Equation Editor
> ~
> : > :
> : > :
> : > :
> : > : On Sat, Sep 14, 2013 at 5:46 PM, Allan Mesoga
> : > <allan.mesoga at gmail.com>wrote:
> : > :
> : > : > You can also use scientific notebook and save it as latex and open
> it
> : > : > using duxbury then translate.
> : > : >
> : > : > On 9/10/13, Sharon O'Neill <soneill1 at haverford.edu> wrote:
> : > : > > Hi Gabriela:  were you able to find an answer to the Nemeth
> Braille
> : > : > > software question?  I see they directed you to the fellow that has
> : > : > revamped
> : > : > > the nfbnet list for blindmath.  Were you able to contact him?
> : > : > >
> : > : > > I would be very interested in what he suggested.
> : > : > >
> : > : > > Regards,
> : > : > >
> : > : > > Sheri
> : > : > >
> : > : > >
> : > : > > On Fri, Aug 2, 2013 at 4:25 PM, Gabriela Moats
> <gmoats at haverford.edu>
> : > : > > wrote:
> : > : > >
> : > : > >> Hi all,
> : > : > >> I need to make raised tactile images that contain labels with
> math
> : > : > >> symbols for a blind student and he would like them to be typed in
> : > Nemeth
> : > : > >> Braille. Usually I just type them in SimBraille font and then
> feed it
> : > : > >> through an embosser so that the dots become raised Braille, but I
> : > need
> : > : > to
> : > : > >> be able to type in Nemeth Braille for this science course. Does
> : > anyone
> : > : > >> know
> : > : > >> of a software program or font I can download that would allow me
> to
> : > do
> : > : > >> this?
> : > : > >>
> : > : > >> Thank you,
> : > : > >>
> : > : > >> Gabriela
> : > : > >>
> : > : > >> --
> : > : > >> Gabriela Echavarría Moats
> : > : > >> Special Assignment Coordinator of Accommodations
> : > : > >> Office of Disabilities Services
> : > : > >> Haverford College
> : > : > >> Stokes Hall 118F
> : > : > >> gmoats at haverford.edu
> : > : > >> _______________________________________________
> : > : > >> Blindmath mailing list
> : > : > >> Blindmath at nfbnet.org
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> : >
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindmath_nfbnet.org/soneill1%40haverford.edu
> : > : > >>
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